Even in the same county, there are various pockets of growth, and lack of, and one needs to dig deeper into their local market, watch what is selling and where, pricing, etc. in order to know what their market is.

Mayor Tyler and the local government have done a pretty decent, albeit not perfect job handing the influx of crime and abandoned properties.I cant really find the marketwatch article Ryan is referring to, but he makes Muncie sound like some sort of godless hell-hole.  

I'm keeping on eye on Market Watch in the MLS!

Hello Naazaneen Boojar, you need to learn that Markets, including the Real Estate Market run in Cycles and we are at the TOP of the Market. Watch

Go in side as many open houses as possible, look for dumpsters, research sales history, check out permit history for the renovations you find prior to them hitting the market, watch DOM, pay attention to the "players" in your market place, keep a very close eye on rents and retail prices, call all the FSBO signs you can, create your "drive for $" list, talk to locals, knock on some doors, drop off some door hangers. 

"Drive for dollars" in your target market. Watch

Veteran real estate agents and market watchers like to point out it’s critical to stay aware of what your desires are telling you, especially when they differ from what your knowledge of the market teaches.

Hey guys, I'm fairly new the the RE game but I've gotten my feet wet and ready to take this thing to another level. I've been investing in Atlanta for a while now(buy and hold and a flip). But highly interested in loo...

Then location is everything  Happy to connect and  help with  areas that have Oppertunity  for you but with each of the above questions answered differently I would be suggesting differently if that makes sense .I always run crime heat maps on areas I'm not to familiar with and will be going to Market Watch next week that covers both counties you are interstates which is all about data data and more data !!

Here's an article from Market Watch on > "The danger of foreign buyers gobbling up American homes"What's your reaction and thought on this issue.