I am also based in vancouver and found the same issue - looked at Squamish, Kelowna, etc. but prices seemed a bit extended for this strategy (for my budget/risk tolerance, anyway) and other interesting towns were farther away and didnt offer the same metrics. 

I am closing on a former bed and breakfast in a tourist town.

We would like to focus our efforts on the smaller towns surrounding Springfield and Worcester such as Palmer, Ware, Monson, Brookfield etc because that is what we are most familiar with.Currently I work for a local land clearing company and my wife works as a teacher.

You can easily determine neighborhoods by the tyical price point and for you as an OOS investor it does not matter so much whoch side of town you are on.People tend to have rose colored glasses when it comes to neighborhoods.

My entire investing business is built around purchasing in Denison and it's neighboring town, Sherman.

When NYC became a ghost town, people needed a place to go, and the Poconos were 100 miles away.  

But, if the floor is nonlevel because the joints underneath have an issue, than you will need a permit.Honestly, the you really should just call your town and ask. 

Small town Fire station, amphitheater, etc.Mentoring:My Belizean Contractor, we have learned to "trust" each other. 

I have decided to target 20 or so towns in Pennsylvania (several counties) I want to purchase property in. 

While I hope my parents live for many more years, my brother and I are well aware of the fact that someday we are going to inherit both our parents' house and another property that they own in a neighboring town.