Population growth, job diversity, and low DOM (days on market) are significant indicators.

I can see if you're BRRRR'ing 3 times a year, and maybe I'll get to that eventually, but starting out I feel stupid asking an agent to help me find properties for $10-20k, like why would they want to do that if the commission is so low?

For example, I have two STR high-income earners (making 140k & 150k) in Joshua Tree for sale with low expenses, where the sellers will stay on to manage it.Making sure you are keeping as much as possible from the tax man is a huge component and to do so you usually have to invest it.

@Aaron Zimmerman HubSpot is a great CRM to use at a low cost.

On the flip side the clients I fund in my land deals are doing very very well in the foothill subdivision 50 miles or so west of the springs.. but thats the land game buy low sell high.. cant wholesale that stuff it needs to go on MLS to marketed and turn around time is generally 90 to 180 days but nice margins for my clients ..

If you've got people fighting over your listing and competition trying to get into the unit, then you're too low.  

There are a few others here on bigger pockets who have endeavored to do so and can attest to this  (but I will not name them).Basically AHP bought 1000s of low value non-performing loans, these require the most oversight mainly due to the condition of the properties. 

The real estate prices are relatively low, compared to the cities & more touristy areas, but the rental returns are good, with a low vacancy rate.

For $50,000 you can have a turnkey low-income Section 8 rental property that generates $7,500/year in NOI.

218K seems a little low for the area.