I have not seen any "main stream" versions of this just back country engineering but it's a solid concept and works well. 

If I was going into a city and trying to transform a number of blocks I would start with path of progress and work my way out.

If its the trendy hot areas, or general "path of progress" and your able to make a trip and go drive around to find that "path" its really the best way. 

We may have crossed paths at a previous PadSplit meetup.

There are many groups that meet across the country.

It has been my path to financial independence, but I mostly am not looking in San Diego currently and I get many off market offerings daily (so even below retail the hold is cash negative).  

(If curious, my residential real estate investor clients from 10 years ago [you can find my 10 year old bigger pockets dot com posts :], at the time buying up 2-4 unit properties, a lot of them are now done with the 'human' tenants and want to 1031 into something that is ACTUALLY passive, so yes Starbucks comes up, thus I watch it).In my case I zoomed all the way into a specific brand (which then allows me to make very sweeping generalizations across an entire state -- but still not the entire country), I'm not suggesting you do that, but SOME of the variables need to be narrowed down, before you can gain any useful insights. 

We have been working to save up to purchase a primary residence (in Boston or the surrounding suburbs), however, since Massachusetts is currently one of the most expensive housing markets in the country, I’m wondering if it would be more beneficial to purchase my first investment property (out-of-state) first (instead of waiting for home prices to hopefully drop a little in Mass).2.

The one that you see a clear path to growing.  

@Li Li, Since the 1031 exchange will allow you to move into any type of real estate anywhere in the country.