We haven't bought anything in the past couple of years locally because the value proposition compared to what we already own just isn't there.  

There's a good chance it may not even appraise for what the seller is asking if the seller really is asking for that much more compared to others just for furniture. 

Also, just compare your listing with the competitor listings.

Of course the high crime statistics cannot be ignored in these cites, however I'm planning to buy only in the nicer/low crime neighborhoods which hopefully eliminates most of the crime risk.I was wondering if any of you could provide feedback on comparing these 3 cities.

It's worth a conversation.IF you determine that selling is the way to go, $1M could buy you a comparable property in Scottsdale, depending on where in Scottsdale you'd like to be, and how much land you want on your lot. 

And there's so much more I don't know yet compared to what I do know.

Durham tends to offer slightly better cash flow opportunities compared to Raleigh, especially if you’re targeting neighborhoods that are up-and-coming but still affordable.

Understand the fees involved and calculate the total cost for an entire year of management so you can compare the different managers.

Sales comparison A common method that compares the property to similar properties nearby and their relative prices.

There is a distinct difference in the law between short term and long term rentals.