Wanted to chime in as I have jumped into numerous courses & attended seminars as well. 

@Stuart Udis your absolutely right, as far as the market my biggest issue is that I don’t know that area very well and neither does the agent that is helping me.

It gives you a total livability score as well. https://www.areavibes.com/

Well, that’s definitely something to write home about. :-)You use the word “WE” a lot.

I don't know how many BP members in active status down here near Northfield or further south but I would be interested in meeting them as well.

Build - rent - refinance -repeat. in columbus ohio you are buying old houses that are 1900 or 1920 or 1940 and you are in a sellers market. on the other hand you can source land which is a buyers market and build single family homes or duplex or triplexes that will return by renting and pulling cash out on a DSCR loan and doing it again. there aren't a lot of strategies that do this. flipping is different. so many risks. but when someone has a well oiled machine it's all good and less risk.

How well did they handle the recent floods?

@Dawn MurrayI recommend you seek your own attorney in this as well - typically in these situations there is very little to go around but whoever gets the first lawsuit and judgment wins.

One is humid and one is dry, the types of activities to do are different in each city, take a look at where you would be the most happy as well if you're going to be living there!

I also have a client in Turlock who could rec a good CPA up there as well.