If you want to understand 5-year outlook, I'd look for multifamily construction data in your area to understand what level of new units is and will be coming online in the near future. 

Explore my personal favorites, Set For Life by Scott Trench or The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, for invaluable financial insights.3.

Since then, my cabins have tripled in value - worth easily $800K or more, and have produced $696,XXX in rents.  

Quote from @Stuart Udis: @Danielle Benzaken What data are you relying on that suggests Section 8 leased properties provide for better returns than other investment strategies?

Florida properties will continue to appreciate in value since it's an amenity-rich state.

None of those areas have excess housing.I question if housing is going to see a boost in value over the near term due to not having enough housing to accommodate the displaced fire victims.  

If you are looking to purchase an STR in Hawaii, take a close look at the data.

An analysis of the data also shows that the city north of Austin grew 10.6% year-over-year, making it the fastest-growing city of at least 50,000 people.

With your background in lease management and site selection, that could be a natural next step.Regarding STRs, I can understand the hesitation—accurate expense tracking is critical, and not having that data can make evaluating deals frustrating.

I did not do a separate criminal background check as I trusted the info from Zillow (Big lesson learned never to trust the Zillow data again in life).