Why then does DC persistently lag SF in terms of price appreciation?

My initial price range for this purchase is between $120k to $150k, the market is very competitive in Omaha for this price range but I am confident I will find a deal with persistence. 

Whatever you do, persist. 

Be persistent and you can still find financing. 

Persistence and patience are key.

It’s almost as hard to invest here as it is in LA 😩 Persistence will lead us to victory though good sir!

As mentioned in this forum there are ways to find money you just need to be persistent and serious about what you are trying to do.

@Matt AshbrookI would stay persistent with MF search. 

The idea is they're in the same place or were recently and you can help each other move to the next level, share ideas, keep each other motivated, etc.Direct mail is one strategy that a lot of beginning investors use and it's certainly something you can try, but it's usually better suited to wholesalers than to people finding their first property to buy and hold, only because it requires a lot of persistent time, effort and money, and the few leads you'll get for that will often be in areas you might not want, or require more rehab than you might want, for a property you personally would want to own.Don't get me wrong, you can do well with direct mail and other marketing efforts (such as "driving for dollars", pursuing properties with violations, contacting long-time or burned out landlords, door knocking, probates, divorces, etc.), but I'd say it requires a lot of commitment since it's a numbers game and is really best if it's part of a wholesaling strategy.I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'd recommend picking a strategy - buy and hold, or wholesaling - to start out with, and focusing on that.

As all the pod-casts says, what sets apart the successful from the rest is actually being persistent and being a go getter.