I've worked with a broker out of Vancouver, Alex Mcfadyen with Thrive Mortgage.

I love the area, and I believe it will continue to thrive. 

For the skeptics who say the region is disjointed and too competitive, this not-for-profit is an attempt to improve the situation.The association has started working with the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau who is recipient of significant sums to hotel tax money to boost tourism and the bureau has pledged to support STR as witnessed by their marketing dashboard on the PoconosMembers of the association value a thriving vacation home rental industry in the Poconos that strengthens the regional economy and maintains the character of vacation home communities and nearby neighborhoods. 

Do you see oil, natural gas, and the other industries that make Bakersfield thrive not slowing down any time soon?   

They thrive on attention.

Banking on a "it'll get worse before it gets better" strategy, my husband and I bought a large home on significant acreage in southern NH, rural but a quick commute from two thriving metro areas with plenty of jobs but a housing crunch.

The Colleges can be a little tricky, especially close to SouthEastern University, the North side of SouthEastern University can be a rough area, however the University is needing more housing for the students, so you see many of the properties being bought for student rentals, just be sure to check out the area before you buy.Lakeland in general has great investment neighborhoods, where I find most of the value is in some of the class C neighborhoods, which you will find areas which have a mix of older to newer homes, and you can tell in areas where some investors are picking up lot's to build, which is a sign of a thriving neighborhood, I have recently picked up a couple houses where they are building two new houses in the same block, and we picked up the houses for a steal.One suggestion I have is to check out the local PCREIA, they meet every first Thursday and third Thursday of each month, you will find many local investors and a great community to learn from.http://pcreia.com/

., what they 'should' be paid, what their 'expertise' is worth in a dollar per hour basis), and second, most people use the argument of "let the peons do it, my time is better spent making money" as a justification or excuse as to why they don't need to put in the hard work necessary to make a business endeavor thrive. 

Houstons economy is diverse and still thriving with the oil markets downturn.

Granted, Wake Forest, like many of the suburban towns 30-45 minutes from Raleigh, has a thriving economy and life blood of its own now, so it doesn't have to depend on Raleigh necessarily.