General Question: How would you say is the real estate market´s health in Louisville

[Pavel Reyes Valdes]

Just trying to weight my options

[Michael Seeker]

Originally posted by @Brian Faulkner:

@Michael Seeker Left in 2006, but I go back at least 2 times a year... all my friends, family still live and work in that area. 

"Louisville isn't an appreciation play"

This is really how I feel about the area. If my strategy is to buy and hold... then I want income today and appreciation tomorrow.  I don't want a bunch of 50-75K that I only get cash flow from. In the long run I'm not getting above average returns, and the lack of appreciation will possibly stifle my growth as an investor because I will have less leverage to use for future acquisitions. 

The career opportunities in that city are lack luster, as is the compensation. If i were in that area and investing I would look at Columbus or Indy.

I have to disagree, but can see how one could come to such a conclusion growing up in Louisville and not having lived there for the past 10 years or so.

If your strategy is truly to buy and hold, then you're looking for cash flow today and tomorrow and any appreciation is a bonus.  This is exactly what you get in Louisville or Indy or St. Louis or Columbus or...fill in any other midwest city you want.  If somebody is investing remotely, then I can't really argue as to why they should pick Louisville over any other midwest city (I don't think Indy or Columbus would be my top choices though).  But for somebody living in Louisville, there's absolutely no reason to start investing in Columbus or Indy in hopes of maybe getting a slightly higher rate of appreciation.  Since the original poster is from Louisville, the reasoning for investing in any other city would have to be pretty compelling.  Your argument of no jobs and low pay doesn't seem to be founded in anything other than your perception from an occasional visit and maybe what your friends/family are telling you...please let me know if I'm mistaken.

I'm curious what is so compelling about Columbus or Indy that makes you think that these cities are poised to appreciate significantly faster than Louisville and would make for better buy and hold purchases?