Advice on Getting In (or Staying Out) of the Dayton, Ohio Market

[John Tilstra]

BPers,

My wife and I live overseas.  We're originally from Tenessee, and that's where we own three properties.  My brother-in-law, who has managed our properties in Chattanooga, TN recently moved to Dayton, Ohio.

We are therefore considering shifting the focus of our next few deals from TN to Dayton.  But, we know very little about the market in Dayton.  

We are looking for single family or multi-unit buy-and-hold rental properties.  We have traditional lending and some cash to work with.  

I'd be open to any collective wisdom or observations about the market: what are the growing B-class areas?  are there neighborhoods to avoid?  neighborhoods to seek out?  i know people have differing thoughts on the 2% "rule", but what range of returns are people getting without investing in class D real estate?  

In addition, if folks have any good realtors that they would recommend for the area, I'd certainly be interested.

Thanks so much for any thoughts and wisdom.  And go Cavs! (tough loss to GS, though...)

Best,

John