How do you assess the "Path of Progress" for a city?

[Josh Stack]

Evening BP!

I hear the 'Path of Progress" discussed on the podcast regularly and often.  It's usually vaguely defined or even just alluded to without much in the way of specifics but I take it to mean the geographical direction of development, gentrification and or social and economic growth of a city.  The theory goes that if you invest ahead of the 'wave' of progress you stand to reap the rewards of appreciation and a rising tide lifting all boats effect.

The question I have is how to do actually assess, systematically what the path of progress of a given area is?  A site search doesn't turn up much except for the helpful blog post linked below.  What if you are searching the nation for investment areas though and have narrowed a short list and need to assess the path of progress remotely?  How could you research the path of progress for Greenville, SC; Syracuse, NY or Tempe, AZ remotely when you can't hang out at the city hall and take the clerks donuts and lattes once a week?

One thing is to be local, it's another to try and ascertain this soft type of market data from afar.  I'd very much like to hear what you may have done in the past and what tips and tricks you have to share?

Thanks,

-Josh.

Post: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/8617/53771-how-to-find-and-profit-from-the-path-of-progress