My advice would be go for the most they will loan you as long as you're in an appreciating market and you can find a value-add.

@Ella Marie, I can't speak on behalf of your market, but in my respective market, competition is tough, and the successful fix-and-flip vendors are often full-time operating businesses.

@Marc Anthony MacielIf you're diving into house hacking and multifamily investing in Southern California, you’ll want to focus on markets like Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, and Long Beach—areas with strong rental demand and solid appreciation potential.

Todays market vs a different market will also impact your buy box. 

For example,  if no one else bids on the property or it stays on the market longer than the bid window and they do not accept an offer?

Hey All, I'll be traveling to Costa Rica for a wedding and wanted to explore the market while I'm visiting.

It goes to your preference, of course, but whichever can produce the greatest ROI should be considered.There are many markets in Michigan, for example, where it is cheaper to buy an existing house and fix it up than it is to build new.That may not be the case where you are at or through the construction suppliers and contractors you may have access to.To Your Success!

What's your criteria for the market you're interested in? 

I hear there's a recent case in Federal Court where an investor was found NOT GUILTY of violating anti spam laws because his text was asking to BUY a property, which isn't sales (which is what marketing is). 

Firstly I apologize that I do not have any market insights data specifically, but Houston has been a rough market as valuations have pulled back.