It's one of the few truly "walkable" (safe) areas in Richmond, with shops and restaurants, and the houses are old. 

There is just not enough going on in the specific area (jobs, entertainment, restaurants, child care, shopping) for that price point and getting most anywhere involves I77. 

I think many of us use hyper-consumerism as a means of validating our self-worth.We NEED to upgrade to a new cell phone every year, we NEED to take expensive vacations to show our friends how fun our lives are, we NEED to purchase the more expensive car, we NEED to eat at chic restaurants and document the experience all over our social media.

I have been in the jeep club community for many years and I found when you have meets are bars and restaurants all new people have a hard time finding their way into a conversation.  

. -- looks like you are still in town since you enjoyed our heat wave here in Erie yesterday... let me know how the Tenant search goes for the two upstairs units... and I've got a property a couple blocks from you so if you are down around there this weekend it'd be a good opportunity to meet up and chat...Final thought and just throwing this out there but it'd be awesome to meet up with you guys in Erie at a local restaurant/ bar to talk some more...  

The town has no gas station, no restaurant and the average income is so low that nobody can afford to pay more than $150,000 for the house I purchased.

If you want to create actual wealth for retirement, invest in appreciation.In Cash flow property, the most money you make probably 4x dinner cost at nice downtown Vancouver restaurant LOL

(We have 4 such flex-time "super commuters" within a 1 block radius that have moved in since we've been here).There's also an influx of empty nesters from the immediate surburban vicinity who want a walkable downtown, proximity to shops, restaurants, and coffee shops.

I'm currently househacking a new build out here and have seen a fair amount of growth in the area (new SFHs, Condos, banks, restaurants, etc...) 

Personal opinion.. a couple restaurants/bars, a general convenience store, and a CVS/Rite-Aid would make a huge difference to foot traffic and a neighborhood feel.