There are good opportunities, but competition is increasing.There are some large players in the market who have their own realty companies and funds. 

Taking your grandfathers understanding and gut instinct on what a good property is and a good model to determine return on investment and you will have a competitive advantage over many other real estate investors.

They compete with each other for the exact same pool of borrowers, so it's not probable that they will ever be wildly different (as essentially identical products), nor is it probable they will ever be exactly identical (due to competitive forces). 

And yes, you might even have to drop rents to stay competitive. 

me the "local considerations"Sure, for one it's a great AirBnb market, another is that it's HOT down here (both temp and market), another is that there are reverse seasonal considerations (most of the year, including winter, 80 degrees is normal), another is that it's competitive to find good properties right now, another is that a lot properties are in HOA's and there are specific laws regarding them, another is that taxes are low and I do mean low, and Phoenix is very profitableAverage Turnkey Cash Flow Per Door In PhoenixMetro Area No Bank Financing Neededhttps://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/600/topics/584916-average-cash-flow-per-door-in-phoenix-metro-area

My biggest takeaway for new investors is to get very clear on the competition, potential new developments in the works, and the people who live within a 1, 3, and 5 mile radius of your potential site.  

AHS incentivizes contractors to do the minimum amount of work.This is the LA area, where contractor competition is fierce.

You may have good luck with a lender who is national and operates in all the states you want to invest in, but you are likely to find competitive terms from a local lender where the property is located as well.

I see more value in properties that are over four units, mostly because it is a different type of loan and therefore reduces some of the competition.

I’m ready to take on future competition, which I imagine more bigger players are starting to enter.