If you have any thoughts of self-managing a growing portfolio of rentals then this could be a good opportunity to grow your knowledge-base from first hand experience.- Work with the best PM company you possibly can for the units you don't live in and compare the units of work involved in your management of the professionally managed units vs your self-managed units. 

We are building Hydrogen Fueling stations in CA and we lease land from the gas station owners. 

I had a client looking at two lots that needed to be built with one house based on a 1930s deed restriction.

This will help guide you to the best cities based on your expectations.

Your loan amount will be based on the lower of the purchase price and appraised value. 

Running your numbers based off a short term rental or medium term rental rate is going to get you in trouble.

I am based in Charlottesville VA and even though I make excellent cash flow on my STRs, that cash flow has always been dwarfed by my appreciation.

So lets say the property is valued at 200,000 could a brand new LLC borrow 150,000 to 160,000 to purchase an investment property where the rent would be 1400 to 1500/month.Or since I own the LLC is it strictly based on my ability to get financed?

If you want some criteria to pay attention to I would suggest to use your "I'd be down to live/move here" list as a base and then evaluate the market metrics to see if it's a strong investment opportunity.

I recommend looking into areas near economic bases - close to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ohio State Campus, New Albany, etc.