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Updated almost 2 years ago on . Most recent reply
![Monica Williams's profile image](https://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/no_overlay/uploads/social_user/user_avatar/2714322/1698688537-avatar-monicaw62.jpg?twic=v1/output=image/crop=2316x2316@0x2/cover=128x128&v=2)
What Matters Most to You?
What matters most to you when investing in real estate? Do you prioritize cash flow or appreciation? Are you willing to invest in a less desirable location if the numbers make sense? Or do you prefer to stick with properties in high-demand areas with strong rental markets?
Share your thoughts and experiences!
Most Popular Reply
![Yael Lederman's profile image](https://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/no_overlay/uploads/social_user/user_avatar/2512232/1682438868-avatar-yaell4.jpg?twic=v1/output=image/crop=2500x2500@625x0/cover=128x128&v=2)
It really depends on why you're buying. Are you looking for a STR, LTR, flip? For my STRs I'm looking for properties that really stand out and will cash flow (look at AirDNA and Mashvisor for market metrics). Appreciation is nice upside but I don't necessarily optimize for it since I'm hoping to hold for a while. For LTR I tend to look for more desirable locations mostly because the risk of having to deal with problematic tenants and/or evictions is higher in less desirable locations. That can be a huge time and money suck so I avoid it. For flips I'm hyper vigilant about what other properties are going for in the area and how fast they are going to minimize my risk.