My dry wall contractor has over 600 employees and a JET  for instance.The big subs on the west coast right now are just flat killing it.. not the lunch bucket day contractors but the for real companies.  

@George Bruton It is really tough to find a decent deal in MF these days anywhere on the West Coast and probably more so in California but that does not mean you should compromise your criteria. 

I was in Germany my first three years and now I’m in Hawaii to 2021.

@Liz Spina - I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in West Philadelphia / University City in 2015.

Better opps upstate and to the west,

I don't have hard numbers, but even the cheaper price of land may be completely washed out by the fact that a builder in Springfield can buy a platted subdivision for less cost per lot than in a rural town. as a new home builder myself.. the reason most of the mid west smaller areas has little to no production building is as you so accurately point out you can buy an existing home for less than replacement costs.. so until that flips.. the only new construction is usually upper end  those that have the money and want to build themselves a nice home to live in.. as a point in fact. in our market by the time you buy a lot and pay for permits etc your at 200k  before you build anything.. median price point is about 400k.. 

I'll send it over BP's private message.Areas - I like the west side of town (Lakewood, Arvada, Wheat Ridge,) and Thorton.

I invest in Arizona and Texas for cash flow but others invest in the mid west.

My dad actually just built two duplexes and a SFR on some property in the mid-west (ohio to be exact).

My market in Denver is also way too expensive, so I am working in mid-west markets for the time being.Good luck!