If that hipster area has rent growth and appreciation built in grab it anywhere.  

I am new to real estate investing and I am looking forward to learning form you all as well as share any knowledge that I may come across during my search and growth.

@Mike D'Arrigo I was looking into Texas mostly because of the strong economy and the projected growth.

If you are considering the long distance landlording thing, which I don't recommend, then pick the area by economic growth potential and then do the above.

I believe that I can add value right away to an experienced investor with my transferable skills as an IT Project Mgr - timeline/schedule mgt, budget mgt, resource mgt, issue resolution, task mgt, task dependencies, etc.

The housing market is responsible for a large portion of growth for the US, and if lending has become harder for most Americans, then it will only lead to one outcome.

Despite being near the A train station, the immediate adjacent area is not experiencing any growth and has not in a very, very long time.

The median price for Austin-area homes was $219,530, which is 10 percent more than the same month in 2012.Cathy Coneway, 2013 President of the Austin Board of REALTORS­®, explained, “With strong activity across all segments of the market, the Austin-area housing market has been full steam ahead through the holidays and the rest of the year, Our city’s population and job growth show no signs of slowing down, so 2014 will likely be another competitive year for Austin real estate.”In November 2013, inventory remained at a historically low level of 2.3 months, which is more than half of a month less than November 2012.

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I know this is a huge undertaking, but I am up for the task.