How to think about location?

[Karthik Ramachandran]

Hi, I am interested in purchasing a MFH and this will be my first MFH. Looking at 15-25 units, purchase price of 1-1.5M, Property Class B or C (prefer B). I live in Portland, but open to buying MFH in other locations. (will be using a property management).  I have a few questions and would love some guidance. 

1. How should I think about location? By City or By State or both? If so what are top 10 real-estate markets to invest in? 

1a. What are some sources/tools to identify those markets to invest in>

2. Once I identify a city, how should I think about the location within a city? What are some parameters? 

3. Open to any other methods of narrowing down to a city/location choice. 

Thanks

Karthik