I'm a land broker who focuses on southern California, both urban infill development sites in Los Angeles, and also "green field" development in the more suburban markets like the Inland Empire and desert markets.

@Sunny Burns First, outstanding job your family and you should be very proud of what you accomplished for the simple fact you broke out of what society's norm and you created an awesome freedom for your family!

The larger lenders offering the best terms like assets in strong suburban to urban core markets.

Buying in or close to an urban area near employers is very important to me, and buying out of state in smaller suburbs is too risky for my taste as well.  

I'm have an Urban Planning and Regional Development degree myself (University of Arizona).

@Wei Jie YangJames Wise is an active member of the Bigger Pockets community and I can tell you from my perspective as a self-managing landlord in not-so-nice neighborhoods in my own neighboring city, where we face quite similar problems, that he doesn't say painfully stupid things about the realities of urban property management or rehab work.

Whenever you are buying a property out of state you should do a few things to ensure it's as smooth as possible.Don't buy in the roughest neighborhood in the urban core.

Starts with deflation, morphs into Stagflation.Ends with a bang with hyperinflation so it’s not just young people getting picked on by society it’s everyone at the grocery store.I remember talking recently with a Dollar General cashier & manager about hyperinflation & $8 bread breaking their buck based system.

Society's marketing makes people feel like we need mentors so they can take our money. 

Ed. in urban education, concentration in secondary math