Like Jim, the thought of investing in "rougher" neighborhoods intrigues me, especially because I grew up near 30th & greenfield ave (stereotyped by many as a "rough" area) in Milwaukee...and have had some of the nicest, most stand-up neighbors I could ask for.  

It's a 3 unit in the town where I grew up. 

Fortunately I grew up here and I have an expansive network covering every pro I will need help from except a CPA, which shouldnt be too hard to find. 

I grew up poor, so our idea of a vacation was going to the swimming area at the local lake here in Oklahoma, lol. 

Then I just brought the PM along to manage my apartment complexes and we all learned and grew together.The prescription was purchase in safe areas with low vacancy rates.  

We went to Chicago, Boston, New York, Boca Raton, Dallas, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Fran, Los Angeles - probably 10 to 12 cities in California and sometimes meeting with only 2 or 3 investors.But we kept at the traveling and commitment to go meet investors where they were and eventually the crowds grew into the hundreds.We also met and managed homes for the owners of Fortune Builders.  

I am a native Californian and I grew up in the beautiful suburb of San Marino/Pasadena.

How can Cliff be doing so well,… we grew up together, worked together, were in the service together…… You’re the CHAMPION you took the time to figure out what it takes to go out kill something and bring it home so you had food on the table!

I grew up there and my parents still live in Point Breeze.

Most investors I know started with conventional loans in their own names, and then moved on to commercial loans as they grew their portfolios.