For self-performed jobs, it wont matter where I go, but definitely much more expensive to do a job more than the neighboring county, just the hotel and food allowance, about $40/day/person more expensive.For aure service calls are expensive, gas and all but, its part of business.

I have a few quads in West Columbia and they are pretty solid performers.  

Get a permit and hire a contractor to perform the work2.

Its ok to get a lower return if the homes actually perform like they are supposed to. 

My group has about 25 rentals throughout Solano County so we have a good gauge on which areas are performing and which have remained flat.

Hire an architect or consultant to perform a code review to determine the specific requirements for your intended use group classification, which is Class A-2.

I've had very good performance from duplexes, but you need to be selective with your location choices in Indy for SFH OR MF.

If you want to be an investor, then I'd be looking at leveraging up the $1M to buy a *performing* apartment of commercial building(s).  

If you want a brochure site and something to post content and properties on and don't care much about the performance, wix, weebly, and those low end priced solutions are perfect.

Properties will perform better because of lower acquisition costs.