I'm from the Twin Cities and am hoping for some friendly advice.I'm looking at a retail strip building on the border of Metcalfe Park and Walnut Hill neighborhoods.  

(yes, I know my approach to this is more like gambling then investing but I am in the water now.)

I hail from north of the border in Vancouver so I won't be able to help you but I'm sure you will find a partner.

The increasing population, 5 military bases, over 16 colleges & universities, 2 major medical centers, proximity to Eagle Ford, and the fact that it's first major city north of the Mexican border all help make this a healthy market for investors

Actually, for me, it was just a fun gamble -- Christina mentioned the tax lien to me at a REIA meeting and 2 minutes later I offered to write her a check for 50%, while Ned was just laughing at me for my lack of due diligence...  :-)We'll be all-in for $6500 or so, and hopefully we can sell it for a profit. 

And that's still a gamble.

“Be always sure you are 100% right, then go ahead.”
~Davey Crockett

Hello all, my name is Robert and I'm a newbie here in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas - specifically Brownsville, Harlingen, South P...

How would you market your real estate to a border state where their influxhas influenced the market(example PA with buyers from NJ),

I thought of something regarding your chosen area of the 210 corridor you may or may not have thought of already, but just in case:The LA county cities that border the West End (Claremont, Glendora, etc) are pretty different markets than SB county cities along the 210.

This neighborhood, Sharswood, which borders the more popular neighborhood we focus on (Brewerytown), has some interesting stuff in the works over the next 10 years.