Good Day All, I'm looking for a little advice on how some of you narrowed/focused your search location.

I have many other interests so I don't focus on the handyman work as much as some people might think I should, and my lifestyle and bills are all geared towards low income, including living in a 1 bedroom home with low bills and taxes, and driving older cars.

You are correct when you say "life doesn't always go as planned..." but I admire your determination and your focus to your real estate plan in life. 

Usually vacancies is tracked locally by local REI groups. but those stats focus more on multifamily.

Ongoing cash flow need not be your primary focus for the dollars you've already saved.

I am focused on using private/hard money to purchase the house outright and then refinance to pay back the private/hard money lender. 

So I'll find out a more focused number in the next couple of days. 

Bend is a beautiful area, with a focus on a healthy lifestyle, recreation, etc.

Do you surround yourself with fellow investors to stay focused?

You need to pick couple of markets and focus on them and slowly expand your wings to other markets.