I was perusing padmapper and following the coast north from LA and came across Orcutt and Santa Maria.  

Best school districts in the DFW area that have any chance of cash flowing...Richardson ISD (ranked in the top 25 in the nation...hottest area in DFW right now, includes parts of Dallas and Garland)PlanoFriscoCarrollton/farmers branchAllenProsperGrapevine/Colleyville HEB (Hurst/Euless/Bedford)North Richland HillsKellerNorthwest ISDIn DFW, for a small MFR, you're probably looking at something built in the 60's or 70's, possibly early 80's.

Lots of other meetings both north and south of Boston.  

Neither you nor the original owner can deduct the property taxes on your tax return, even if these are, in fact, being paid by the underlying lender. 

In my state of north Carolina its much easier to just assign a contract. ideally you should have buyers that don't care about what you make as long as they are getting the best deal anywhere around.

I've been wanting to go to some RE meet ups in North Dallas.

That is exactly how we got started, we bought rehabbed and rent ready properties on the North Side of Chicago.  

Omaha, Nebraska, or Fargo, North Dakota. 

These properties are in the North Collingwood area of Cleveland.  

I do the North Side of Chicago and can help you if that is the area you are looking in