Market Selection: Colorado Springs vs. Pueblo vs. Canon City

[Casey Waters]

Hi there everyone. I'm brand new to real estate investing and to BiggerPockets, but I've been listening to the podcast for quite a while now and have read quite a few REI books, including several published by BiggerPockets. My current plan is to rehab and flip in Colorado (where I live and work) for the next 3 to 5 years in order to increase capital as quickly as possible, and then to transition into buy and hold rentals (preferably apartments, perhaps through the BRRRR strategy), either in Colorado or in a different, out-of-state market better suited to the rental business. I am currently trying to narrow down my initial target market and specific farming area. I live in Pueblo West and work in Canon City, but I can't say I'm necessarily in love with either of those towns and am inclined to think Colorado Springs (which is a little farther for me but still within driving distance) may be a better market for either flipping houses or long term investing due to better schools, lower crime rates, faster population growth, more jobs, nearer to Denver, etc. However, as I only just recently moved to Colorado, I don't have that intuitive market understanding that comes from living somewhere for a while. So, here are my questions:

First, in addition to the quicker short-term cash-generation potential of flipping over buy and hold, I think that flipping may be a better business model for me in these cities due to Colorado's high price to rent ratios, but does anyone have any other thoughts on which real estate investment model may work best in this market?

Second, within El Paso County, Pueblo County, or Fremont County, does anyone have any recommendations on which city or zip code(s) or neighborhoods may prove to be the best target market or farming area, and why?

Thank you all so much.