Petersburg area in FL (also looking a bit in Sarasota), and upon some initial digging, we've determined that these could be potentially solid areas to start our real estate portfolio.

It was in my neighborhood so I was familiar with the area and the prices of homes coming up.

I hope this provides you with a bit of motivation , Good luckHey all, I see so many posts, " I am researching, " I am doing my homework" , I am trying to build my team" "Deciding on which area" So many are TRYING but never do anything, like a hamster on a wheel, A LOT of movement but staying in the same place.

@Rene Hosman I don't but the land in this area is unpredictable with boulders and can be quite polluted from old industry.

If you continue to house hack, I see no reason why you should sell the property.If you did a 1031 exchange, are you able to cashflow greater and/or target a better an area with higher appreciation rates? 

If you want to dive deeper into specific areas I'm happy to nerd out. 

You will get a better rate and terms, experience, and a faster closing going wholesale than you would going with a retail lender. 

You can check out the application I built that helps investors, specifically real estate investors find homes in their area.

The problem I see is the masses have not understood the advantage of purchasing a duplex.As far a Lennar is considered an entry level builder, I don't see that their neighborhoods in general have very good price appreciation, unless they are in a unique area where the location is exceptional.I think that prices are falling, and that you should be able to find a deal, the I-35 Corridor from  San Antonio to Austin is a very hot area.Here is an example of a property that was listed for $342,000, and the list price is down to $300,000, with a price drop of $20,000 on 7/29. 1261 Stone Rim Loop, Buda, Texas 78610, If you need any comps or info, just let me know, I'm a licensed Broker in Texas, and I have MLS access across the state.Also, I'm not sure if you know, but you can split your 1031 exchange and purchase multiple properties instead of just 1 property. 

You mentioned school so I assume you're looking in the area near UNF?