@Natalie Johnstone There's no perfect answer, but the general indicators are the simple ones - population growth, median household income growth, businesses moving to the area. 

(i do think that household formation will slow way down in the late 2030s. 

The average US household uses 9000 per month.

The asking rent growth rate decline of 2.7% observed over the past 12 months compares unfavorably to the long-term performance of the metro, and rent growth deceleration has been shared broadly among the Los Angeles metropolitan area's thirty-seven apartment submarkets.Competitive Inventory, Household Formations, AbsorptionThe first quarter added 6,770 net new households to the Los Angeles MSA.

Median household income should always be north of $40K, preferably north of $50K. 

@Farzan SetayeshNot a local investor, but here is a data driven look at the market conditions in McAllen TexasTwo of the most important market performance indicators, population and median home values, have been increasing steadily for the past decade   Rents have followed a similar trend The chart to the right shows median household incomes over time, which have also been increasing. 

If its 3 tenant sin the household all have to be on one lease agreement. 

The math is easy, the 1st Lien Heloc, even at a higher interest rate, will out perform a traditional mortgage hands down with respect to gaining equity/wealth much faster, with no change in household spending habits. 

That would put you between probably $3500-4500 depending on dp, property taxes etc. 85k salary, let’s say you are taking on home 60k, like even with house hacking, you’d simply at best be extremely house poor, at worst would be challenged to afford the mortgage, the vast majority of people buying homes in our area at this point in the cycle for a variety of reason are dual income households, tbh for a single person making 85k a year, you are just much better off renting or moving to locol area if remote or hybrid.

I do typically ask them up front what their household income is to make sure it will qualify as well as how long of a lease they want to do so as not to waste time with people that don't make enough or only want a 6 month lease.