Charlotte hands down. This town is going insane with expansion. Deals are almost impossible to find as a result. If you can get one, GET ONE. I have a few I'm working on now, but the prices are closer to retail than I'd like. Still producing cash flow though.
@Raphael Cuthbertson you meant, it is impossible NOT to find a deal, right? I just fear moving from here to there and having it end being low in supply.
I think anywhere on I-26 between Columbia, SC and Charleston , SC is a great place to buy and hold. There are tons of new jobs being created everyday in Charleston, SC. From the Boeing Plant, Volvo, MUSC, Google. I have been in Charleston for 3 years now and have never seen a area grow like this one. Although the state does not support the growth with the infrastructure that is needed, it does not seem to affect the companies moving here. The prices in and around the city of Charleston have skyrocketed, which is forcing a lot of people to expand outward ( down I-26). But like mentioned above the rental property tax is higher, I believe that the higher gross rents cover that.
Well I own rentals in Charlotte and have 5 rehabs in Columbia. If it was not for the crazy taxes on the SC side. I would keep a few of these Columbia properties.
Both areas are experiencing incredible growth. Charlotte is a major city, where Columbia is a secondary market. So you are comparing apples to oranges. From your supply and demand to crime rates. Not fair to answer ,as their are both good and bad areas in every single market in the USA. Those are very generic questions.