It will likely be more rent growth and property appreciation over time.When I sold my starter house here in Canton next to Woodstock it sold for all cash in 3 days.

Columbus is a great place to invest due to the growing population, job growth, infrastructure development, and affordability. 

Why buy the real estate equivalent of a penny stock when you can afford to buy blue chip aristocrat dividend stocks (Class A multifamily properties in good locations with actual strong fundamentals like population growth, a diverse and recession-resistant job market, limited supply and high demand, affordability, and consistent long-term appreciation)?

The ratio of new jobs to new home starts is a staggering 2:1 making that growth sustainable.

With this knowledge, it seems as though out-of-state investors are analyzing markets that have great job growth, high appreciation, low unemployment, low taxes, but are still "affordable" compared to standards in more expensive parts of the country.

Think rent growth in a city like Seattle or Boston, but in Chicago, you can actually afford to get into the game.

You definitely want a "like-minded" individual but you don't want that person to do the same tasks as you or its all just a big waste of time.

You can still network and build relationships that way.We are based out of Florida, but we don't usually visit properties even if they are in our hometown because of the time constraints that prevent us from locking in more deals and doing more efficient tasks.

@Bubba McCantsWe have clients in the Reno Tahoe, NV area that are taking a bit of hit on the cash flow because of the above average appreciation growth boosted by tech jobs and people moving from CA.

Start by evaluating your current financial position, setting clear objectives, and focusing on strong rental demand, population growth, and economic stability.