You could talk about Phoenix or anywhere else in Arizona but I consider them vegas without the shows, the restaurants, the gambling, the tourists, the excitement, and they tack on state income tax.

If you are looking to move to Jax, look at Springfield or Riverside, these are close to the Sports Entertainment District.

It's a bigger gamble in my opinion, UNLESS you KNOW the person putting the deal together and trust them. 

With all the competition from DC, MD, PA, NY, DE they are doomed until they find a new business model not involving gambling.

Seattle especially is pretty much all gambling on appreciation at this point, as the properties are valued so high that cash flow is extremely low to actually being negative. 

That is gambling. 

@Matthew Paul Sigh, our contractor showed me pictures of his Porsche sports car, told us how in 2015 he made over $1 million.

"Gambling" that the value of the asset will increase also has its risks.

No way to make money on that deal if there is no equity and if it is underwater.If you could get it for $0 down with her carrying the mortgage, and it would cash flow well, it would still be a gamble to consider but the risk would still be on her. 

I'm now a licensed real estate agent with Exit Realty Metro (MN) and Homestead Realty (WI)) I am by no means rolling in cash (and proudly enjoy Sports Clips haircuts and obsessing about airline miles for my vacations) but real estate has helped me catch up on my retirement savings and provides a nice second source of income, which helps me stress less about taking on as many clients in my day job (or charging those clients a ton of money).My day job: I’m a political consultant that has managed campaigns, led field programs, designed trainings, or consulted on over 50 campaigns in 18 US states and 8 countries.