Turns out, the previous owner did take many steps to mitigate the moisture damage and the home was very dry and mold free when we acquired it.

Its not usually cut and dry so more of the story would help.

They seem to like the dry of the desert rather than the moist of So TX, and FL. 

Buying a MLS listing is probably a no go ,if you find a private sell or a similar way that would be the best way to purchase a property in todays climate.

those 3000 jobs would get coffee and need dry cleaners and cars repaired etc. 

Away from the coast, no hurricanes, fires, floods - we don't even have snowstorms anymore.People can deny climate change all they want or blame it on sun cycles, and frankly, it does not even matter, the reality is that insurance cost will force the issue.You can try to rebuild and you can put houses on stilts in flood areas, or fortify them against high winds and fires, but that makes it expensive.

Very, very successful.I sent out beige "invitation" envelopes and "hand written" letters (used a computer with a "hand written font" for months - about 200 a week - lots of calls - bought some properties, over all successful but time consumingThis is over the years, so messages changed with the real estate climate and list.List, message, mailing piece.

I will be moving to Austin myself in two years, since Austin market is quite dried up, thinking of investing in SA as OOS.

It will be a little trying for 6 units to use - they're slower because they do both washing & drying - but that would be way better than expecting tenants to drag wet laundry around.

Is this market dynamic and climate now still beneficial for long term buy and hold investing?