I am not an attorney and the Holiday Inn Express was all booked up last night so take everything I said with a grain of salt.

 Thank you enjoy reading your post food for thought

My tenants are constantly asking for rides, small loans, money, food.

Food for thought: If one buys 50 books about real estate at say $15/book, you've then invested $750+ into your investing education, haven't you?

Of course I'm not looking at a map so take it all with a grain of salt.

@James DanchusI'll go against the grain here.

Please also take my suggestions with a grain of salt, I don't have any current investments and am learning about the industry just like you. 

However, that would mean living in the Richmond area (longer commute, some pretty sketchy neighborhoods, 1bdrm apt vs 3bdrm house...) and that is not including any other high cost of living expenses that come with living out there (ie. food, insurance, taxes...).

Welcome, I work in green bay and and starting to get into multi-family rentals, I have noticed at least in Green Bay that the expected rent is much lower than what I need most of the time to get good cash flow, that's without putting any money for repair, so I second the be careful, however take that with a grain of salt, I'm just getting started. 

But which exact area makes the difference between renting to low income but nice people, and an area with bullets flying.Please take what I am saying with a grain of salt as after 8 years, I am still trying to understand all the neuances of the Houston area real estate market.