Good deals happen in every market and I want to be ready and able to find and jump on them in 2019 and every year.I'm also going to continue to grow my network and help other investors because I believe helping other people (eventually) comes back to you, and it feels great to do it too.Lastly, I'm going to continue investing in my own back yard (Rhode Island) as I know the laws and market, and have a team here, and I had not-great experiences investing out of state in the mid-2000s.Even though there are much better areas of the country to invest in, for me personally it's still lower risk to invest where I know because I believe real estate is always local and you can always find deals in every market if you look hard enough.Great question @Marisa Rowe!

If you can't make it work in your own back yard its gonna be very difficult to make it work anyone else considering your gonna need "boots on the ground". 

You are their landlord, an ancient cultural archetype of greed and cupidity, taking more than you deserve for what you offer, ready at a moment's notice to throw them shivering on the street and strew their belongings across the yard should life's vicissitudes overwhelm them one fine month and they're unable to pay you.

A yard is a yard, unless you are getting into the size of lot that is a little more wood-sy.Rentals: Beds/Baths always more important than SF.

I knocked down a small shed in the back yard and rocked it for parking .

We also fixed the deck ourselves and cleared out the back yard.

You catch bees by having the hive, not chasing them around the yard.

City sewer and water hookups and a small yard for bonefires, or outdoor activities.

You cant prove it was them , its on the landlord . this is an access point for maintenance and cleaning. it is next to house in the back yard. 

You can demo the house, remove garbage, paint, and do yard work.