We are in the top 10 fastest growing big cities right now, so families and singles are constantly flying in to check out the area.Raleigh allows short term rentals if you apply for a license.

You could reach out to a few Property Managers in Salt Lake City to see if any of them would be able to give you advice for the area, as they would be familiar with the region and what to expect from the investment! 

In a city like Philly, you will face many challenges - you need to learn the market and know the neighborhood and the block and make sure all of your numbers are within reason, you need very reliable contractors, you need a to understand the permit process, you need to be familiar with market expectations. 

I've been wanting to expand out of my market in Iowa, and see that the Winter Haven, Lakeland, Haines City areas are similar to purchase points as my market.

I'll be bouncing back and forth between the two cities over the next four months before I move in order to get life set up and trying to learn the city... and hopefully find my next project. 

Pairing that with relationship-building will help you uncover off-market opportunities and find local experts who can guide you.For meetups, here are a few ideas:Indianapolis Real Estate Investors Association (Indy REIA): They have a mix of virtual and in-person events and are a good starting point for networking with other investors in the Indy market.Louisville Real Estate Investors Group (REIG): A similar organization for the Louisville market, with educational and networking opportunities.Check out BiggerPockets Meetups: Many cities have local meetups organized by investors active on BiggerPockets, and they often include virtual options.Facebook Groups: Look for local investing groups like "Indianapolis Real Estate Investors" or "Louisville REI."

Its never going to work if you want to buy in the low income areas of a city and hire management from outside.

Out of your list, I suggest the Northern and Western cities you listed (Conroe, Montgomery, and Katy).

Many Texas cities are incentivizing developers to build affordable housing units, but challenges remain around keeping these homes accessible long-term.

But I get it in the lower value assets of the mid west and rust belt cities wholesalers dominate because they spend 100s of thousands in marketing for those type of assets..