I prefer to stay further from the coast and hopefully further from major storm/flooding events (potentially lower insurance costs).  

That will get you looking at cash flow and end up in a lower rated area than you think.

The market does offer lower priced investment opportunities and higher cashflow returns, with ongoing revitalization projects like the DORA boosting appreciation potential.

The lower barrier to entry would be excellent for my personally smaller net worth.

LTRs with long term conventional financing and standard management aren't really cash flowing anywhere right now. sure, there are lower cost markets that look better on paper, but there are costs associated with those supposedly cheap markets as well - deferred maintenance, more challenging tenant base, higher cost turnovers as a percentage of the rent.2. i wouldn't pick a random market thousands of miles away based solely on statistics or numbers. 

This way they are importing lower cost material and paying lower tariffs. 

I gained equity in the property, and I got higher rents which lowered my living expenses while living there.

Again you can buy more properties in lower asset class area, but it's less efficient.There are many threads about appreciation, so i won't repeat it here, but my guidance to you is to think through the difference between appreciation and inflation. 

However, many DSCR lenders have a minimum loan amount of $100K, which can make it challenging for investors to secure financing for lower-priced properties. 

For a tenant who has only lived there for a year, the expectations for normal wear and tear are lower.