I am beginning to look for my first duplex or multi family but will likely look at Willimantic or Mansfield for proximity to UCONN/Eastern College.

For Miami you're looking at Allapattah, Little Haiti, Little Havana, North Miami, Miami Gardens, Liberty City and the general north eastern parts of the city.

In addition, I have lived in homes/condos in three of the four major markets.My grandfather was an Eastern Airline exec who lived in Bayamon. 

I would look both in Puerto Rico (lots of surf and adventure tourism there and it is easy to get to from most of the eastern US) and in Michigan (I know the great lakes attract a rather large tourism crowd in the summer months). 

Also active elsewhere in the Eastern Panhandle.

Eastern North Carolina has been very good to me.

I'm going to be obviously biased to WA over TX but after growing up in the midwest summers with 99% humidity and now experiencing the 0-10% humidity of eastern WA....I'm never going to live in a humid state again.... 

I analyze properties in the south eastern Columbus/New Plymouth area.

Eastern (Atlantic) Canada has some hot markets and even though Canada and US have a tax treaty, you'd be subject to that province's income tax rate...which is very high in Atlantic Canada provinces.If you're really interested in this route though, definitely contact a Canadian/American cross-border specialist (attorney/accountant).

This has not happened here in CT and I think it has helped keep it a viable option for investors based in NY and Boston / other parts of eastern MA.