It is worth keeping in mind that the Fed controls the short-term rates, not the long term ones (now that they stopped buying long term treasuries and even then it was indirectly), which are much more influenced by the long-term expectations of inflation and the international flow of money (think, is there instability in Russia that causes Russians to pull out their money out of the country and invest it in the safe-heaven like US, is the unpredictable and shifting US policy going to keep the US dollar's status as the de facto world currency, etc).

And as Aaron stated, there are probably lots of deals to be had in your back yard...and you are much closer making it easier to control them.

We have had problems in the past with her trying to control what I put in my yard.  

I'm risk averse on factors I can't control, so I don't mess around with insufficient insurance!

And as this faux 'recovery' is merely a 'reinflated bubble' as par, it ultimately matters not whether the PTB (Powers That Be) are in near complete control of another 'controlled demolition?'

It all depends on the amount of time and the amount of control you'd like to have over a project.

You can not raise the rent higher than the local Rent Control Laws allow. 

A good RE agent should know precisely how to answer this.A good listing agent should have a comprehensive marketing plan.

Just understand what you can and cannot control being so far away.

Some communities charged different amounts for different reasons and can control more than you think.