All indications here are of a pretty healthy market. 

From what I read in The Economist, these Sun Belt regions often see steady population growth which can drive healthy rent appreciation.

I invest in military towns because they're usually lower barrier of entry and healthy economies.

Any healthy adult with an average IQ is capable of paying off $10,000 in debt and saving at least $30,000 in two years.

Having a healthy fear going into any deal can keep your sense sharp to avoid potential pitfalls. 

1.25-2 DSCR per property is healthy, and keep cash set aside of reserves per property.

If the local market is healthy and rental income will be adequately managed by a property manager, then a long term residence could be used to build equity.

The networking and local market insights are invaluable.For retirement planning, focus on building steady cash flow and consider setting aside a healthy maintenance fund (I usually recommend 6 months of expenses) to protect against any surprises.If you're looking to expand your portfolio, Columbus is a great market where we still see positive cash flowing deals with lots of appreciation potential.

Let's now discuss taking on new construction for your first time around.The spread between value and cost is quite healthy, but are there transactions recently supporting this price?

You just have to have clear expectations and a healthy margin for error.