@Tove Fox - Residential Real Estate InvestingPros:Lower Entry Costs: Easier to get started with less capital required.High Demand: People always need homes, making demand relatively stable.Easier Financing: Mortgages are generally easier to secure with favorable terms.Simplicity: Easier to understand and manage, especially for beginners.Flexibility: You can use it as a personal residence or rent it out.Cons:Tenant Turnover: More frequent turnover leads to vacancy and more management.Lower Cash Flow: Income potential can be modest compared to commercial properties.Emotional Buyers: Residential prices can be influenced by emotions, leading to price volatility.Maintenance Burden: Landlords often deal with repairs and maintenance, which can be time-consuming.Commercial Real Estate InvestingPros:Higher Income Potential: Stronger cash flow and higher returns are common.Long-Term Leases: Tenants often sign longer leases (3-10 years), reducing vacancy risk.Professional Tenants: Business tenants tend to take better care of the property.Valuation Based on Income: Prices are based on the income the property generates, not market emotions.Shared Costs: Tenants often cover property expenses like taxes, insurance, and maintenance (via triple-net leases).Cons:High Entry Costs: Requires more capital or partnerships to get started.Complex Management: More expertise is needed; you may need a professional property manager.Economic Sensitivity: Commercial properties are more sensitive to economic conditions.Challenging Financing: Securing financing can be harder, with stricter terms and higher interest rates.Zoning and Legalities: More complex regulations compared to residential properties.Key Differences:Risk: Residential tends to be lower risk, while commercial offers higher rewards but with greater risk.Management: Residential is easier for DIY investors, while commercial properties usually require a team.Scalability: Commercial properties are easier to scale, offering more potential for significant cash flow increases.

Look at median household incomes, look at market economy base and diversification, look at what's being done to protect and grow economic performance, just run the #'s and the message should be crystal clear. 

Portland has one to the Lloyd center once the largest now basically defunct. 

If budget is an issue, this is likely a more economical and creative way of going about getting into multi family. 

My thoughts for RE- leverage amplifies appreciation- largest RE expense (principle & interest) is typically fixed for long duration (often 30 years).  

And you create a situation where you are totally dependent.For most people in the US OOS investing does not make sense, the economic delta is not large enough to justify the additnal cost and management burden. 

This unique blend of economic opportunity and lifestyle appeal positions these cities as prime locations for both investment and personal residence.You mentioned Roan Mountain and Watauga Lake.. both are fantastic draws.

The appealing aspect here is the ongoing population growth and other economic factors.

I'm curious what real estate investors and private money lenders like myself use to inform their businesses strategy and predict future market conditions. I just got done making a YT video on the subject, so it's fres...

Focus on factors like what is driving cities to grow both in population and economics.