How passive are you looking to be? Are

The other markets that seem to do well are Big Bear Kauai Orlando Where are you having success and how??

The other markets that seem to do well are:Big Bear Kauai  (@Mike V.)Orlando (@Chai Xiong)Where are you having success and how??

Final price will be whatever the market bears. 

I couldn't decide if I should use the LOC on a cash offer for SFH rental (bearing in mind the property would likely be less than 50K) or use it as a down payment on a conventional loan for a more expensive property.

You just have to know how to get that seed, maybe with another partner, and also know how that Tree is going to grow.Even where I bought in Windsor Terrace, Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy and Ditmas Park wasn't the best "Soil" to grow my tree.

In the past we have also turned the soil and planted sod if the grass is to far gone. 

As an aside most older homes here in Chatt have some type of settling because of lack of soil compaction when building and the fact we get 50+" of rain a year. 

The reason for this is most associated with poor grade or pitch which caused  excessive soil /water pressure against the wall resulting in incremental displacement as wall yields to horizontal earth pressure.

My question would be are you still having issues with the school board pushing for increases since the law has passed?