To be successful in any business you have to let go of that fear and jump in with both feet.  

. #3: onshoring base-line manufacturing (a) creates more employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled labor (b) creates more employment opportunities of jobs that elevate and train unskilled too skilled labor  (c) raises base-line wages and benefits via competition for unskilled labor (d) elevates the entire economic chain via more domestic circulation of $ and (e) less exporting of USD #4: stopping illegal immigration defends and protects legal immigration.

Personally I like keeping my properties that I know are successful and have low maintenance.

So that alone is evidence that what you have been told is wrong.Secondly.. if it is 99% accurate that a list of 2K gets you a deal.. what stops EVERYONE to get a list and thus that means Guaranteed success.

Quote from @John Perkins: Investment Info:Single-family residence fix & flip investment in Success.

I started with a house hack then purchased my own rentals/BRRRRs and now I own a successful 7-figure rental portfolio.

Explore off-market deals where competition might be less intense.Don’t get discouraged—success in these markets often comes from building strong connections and thinking creatively about deal sourcing!

As I've come to terms with this I have taken the last five months to regroup and really think about the future which brings me to my post and what I'd like to get the communities opinion on.I successfully negotiated and acquired one of my duplexes in 2017 that I nearly have paid off (note balance is $54k, property value $230k).

@Fabio Cattolicoit's a great question to ask - i think you're thinking about starting investing the right way - but i'd never presume to tell you where to live.i am sure there are many cities in the US where you could be successful. 

That’s a 0.02% success rate—a 99.98% failure rate.The data couldn’t be clearer: you’re targeting the wrong audience.