If you return to the area for a visit, be sure to look up my husband and I.

@David Tipton  there are a few here on BP I think.I have a unique view on this... as I was brought up in the business by my dad and his RE attorney in Oakland CA. 

I plan to visit with both of them first and tell them what my plans are and give them a 30 day verbal notice.  

I have been doing business in Il last few years.. and its a very unique situation there.. were your forced to deal with an attorney.

I'm from Texas and I go back there frequently to visit family.

You are looking at something a little unique (in the size of units), and if that is the market you want to work then there may not be many of those deals out there, both for you to buy and/or for a tenant to rent, so it could be a nice little niche.

My first step would be to visit your planning and zoning department.

I'm still very new here, and every experienced member/investor has a unique way of approaching their investments but I have found one thing they all have in common.

Any plans of visiting soon?

I'm familiar with the idea of visiting a property and getting a 'feel' for the neighborhood types, but how can you back that up with hard data, or at the very least, concrete observations?