If so, are your amenities worth the extra price?

You mentioned Midwest is what the research is pointing but I believe that is half the story.

CA doesn't have an extra $30b/$40b laying around to do that, not to mention the additional billion to actually do the project to be build ready. 

I could have cut that distance by more than half if I wanted to rent but I wanted to own, so I paid for it through time.

It was the best solution but it did cost extra. 

Average person can't visualize how to fix it, but you can (create an extra bedroom for example)3.

Have the extra cash to really enjoy getting to know Europe.  

You are not going to qualify for active and will not get any extra depreciation.

Something like a house hack, rent out extra bedrooms in your unit, rent by the room, mid term, short term rent the owner occupied unit on busy weekends (and go stay with friends/family)...get really scrappy.

North side: Avondale, west logan square, albany park, rogers parkSouth side: Bronzeville, brighton park, mckinley park, bridgeport, west half of pilsenI agree with “trend is your friend” and avoid areas that might but havnt popped off.