Although the first wave of lay-off has started since 3rd quarter of last year, the lack of inventory will keep home prices elevated IMO. 

Between the DuPont and Gore layoffs, the marginal growth of Chemours, and the static growth of the banking industry, I just don't see potential in the long-term market for Wilmington.

I closed on the day that the Big 3 announced massive layoffs.  

I find Mint to be way too rigid, and I happen to invest entirely through Robinhood (free trading).

I'm new to investing and decided to go this route because I recently went through a major layoff in corporate America, and I finally had the opportunity to do something that I was passionate about.

Despite what some may have thought the home prices continue to increase here despite low oil prices and lay offs.

When the market crashed and folks were losing their jobs, I'm guessing some of the renters weren't able to make payments because of the layoffs. 

The smaller oil companies that are doing layoffs are hiring contract workers out of Louisiana to keep the plants running.

If you focus on the following, you can probably reduce your risk and not have to worry about the area getting worse for a long time:-access to public transportation, job and population trends, rent growth, vacant housing stock in the area, quality of school districtFor example....If you're planning to invest in a town with one large major employer (say a manufacturer) and that employer goes out of business or has a mass layoff due to an economic downturn, it doesn't matter if you own single families or multifamilies......there isn't going to be anyone to rent your units or buy your property.  99% of the time, a diversified local employment base is better (or atleast one that has many employers that are downturn resistant - health care, education, government, etc.) 

I went through two different layoffs in the span of 6 months and the second one got me.