These plots of land I saw for the first time in 2014, my girlfriend at the time, it was her parent's backyard (you don't have yards in the city so they bought the lots to keep them as a yard, the first thing I said when I picked her up on our first date was when her parents want to sell them CALL ME! 

Should I start looking further outside my back yard?

This condo is more like a townhome, and is actually completely detached with a front patio and large backyard.

First I would say start in your backyard.

I'm from LA, you're right in our backyard.

Or are you looking to invest in your backyard and want to know about the market.

Who buys a house with a small house in the back yard you can't legally rent to anyone. 

If you can get infill, do them attached, a row of 5 townhomes with back yards for dogs and 2 car garages.

In fact, I work with one investor who brought a property in Surprise to retire in and visit seasonally he is now looking for another property because his rental stays booked leaving him little room to enjoy it himself.Short-Term Rentals in the Surprise area bring visitors who are seeking the Phoenix International Raceway, Lake Pleasent, MLB Baseball Training camps, family, etc.

I am thinking of meter splitting the duplex is vertical where there are stairs on the outside that take you to the front door, it has its own kitchen bed room living room and was accepted by S8 as a one bed but my concern is that when i have to make it verified by the city if they wont accept it just because it doesnt have a back yard and i dont want to open a pandora box of issues by calling the city or attempting the meter split and them telling me it cant be done.