That's a long way to travel for due diligence!

We know nothing about you, not your interests, your travels, where you have connections besides San Diego, etc. 

I have been interested in real estate for some time now but have been focused on getting my wife through college for the medical industry.  

Find people who travel neighborhoods as part of the daily job.

I do know that he doesn't do anything other than travel for pleasure right now. 

However, I've traveled a bit myself and really love Colorado.

South Brooklyn got hit bad with Sandy and the area is less desirable than those mentioned due to the long travel time to Manhattan. 

@Devan Johnson,like others said, you have some mad skills (and a pretty good helper at cleaning up a rag(end of first video)woof).maybe if your medical life live you some extra time, get into the finishes business (no drywall for you), only countertops, cabinets,... helping/for a local builder/developer. this may increase your chances of finding the off-market deal/fixer-upper in your market.also since both of you are in medical field and no kids yet, you can pretty much move everywhere chasing the next construction/remodeling boom.

If all you have is time on your hands, you can learn a lot from traveling neighborhoods on foot, bicycle or in car.

My wife and I just got back form a year of world travel.