But......If he is smart and saves his money and has 10-15k saved up then he can weather the storm.

Every market has its pro's and con's - Oklahoma has some of the highest insurance premiums in the country because of the weather, but it can be mitigated by having a solid roof, siding, etc.

My focus is on diversified income-producing residential apartments, non-leveraged, away from coastal frothiness and weather-impacted regions.

We want to consider appreciation rates, income/state taxes, quality of life, and extreme weather.

Will not significantly matter in current weather.

The weather and traffic here is a great equalizer when it comes to neighborhoods -- if it's grim in McKees Rocks it's going to be just as grim in Shadyside, and if it's bumper-to-bumper on I-79, it'll be bumper-to-bumper on I-376.

On the brightside LA typically has great weather all year long so can't complain when doorknocking =).

Putting yourself in the hole $1200 before expenses is not recommended unless you have substantial reserves to weather storms.

For a 2 story, ~1400 sqft townhome, it rises to about 85 degrees fahrenheit on the second floor, while around 77-78 on the first floor during the summer weather.

Take your money, weather the storm and move on to the next one.