There are still plenty of high paying jobs left, but the economic fundamentals are certainly not great compared to many other opportunities in other markets

And like @V.G Jason said, is what I've seen recently and what you are seeing part of some fundamental shift in the dynamics from the past year, or is it simple seasonality?

I'd also suggest looking into house-hacking for your first deal.But if/when you decide to invest out of state, building your core 4 will be fundamental to your success, https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog/core-four-real-estate-tea...

While fascist and communist on face of it appear to be opposites, both share fundamentally same totalitarian approach to governing the citizenry.

They have the fundamentals or it hasn't "clicked" for them yet.

The fundamentals aren’t bad and the outlook is somewhat bullish for the next year.

This is a fundamental rule to finance.

I remember the early 2000's and there are a lot of 'pre construction' projects that never came to fruition..not suggesting not to invest there just dive deeper into fundamentals.

Thanks for reply @Gino Barbaro  Cheap capital and debt, Introduction of new and awesome tech and an abnormally exceptional market has definitely obscured basic management fundamentals. 

If the answer to all three is Yes, I buy.And let life unfold.I have NO IDEA what the ultimate return will be….NONE….And neither does any other investor if they are honest…..most crystal balls I find are broken.But if one acquires the property is a solid long term manner based on fundamental investing principles and is never forced to sell…History indicates the long term trajectory of price and rents are up.In my experience, real estate follows cycles……. 6 or 7 years of a bull market, 1 or 2 years down (though the up is always larger than the down), 1 or 2 years of flat which then sets the floor for the next run up.