I think Suffolk might hold a different culture and there is more I need to uncover before I proceed.

I ended up going with Keller Williams because of their training and support and mainly their culture.

The whole tech culture is shiny new and they would prefer a sterile high end apartment. 

I don't think the cultural change you're talking about - which I agree seems to be real and growing - will affect the midwest as much as it will affect rural properties around coastal cities which are just outside traditional commuting range.   

Thanks @Jonathan R McLaughlin, @Matthew Irish-Jones, and @Corey M. for your replies and insight.

Some of it is cultural, I am a kiwi (new Zealander), and most of our clients are from similar cultures to ours where we tend to resent paying for anything.

At the heart of this issue is the fact that Americans have a culture of buying too many things and we can’t seem to get rid of most of it.

You are bound to have a bit of culture shock!  

I'm a huge soccer enthusiast and one of the things we do not have in our area is a outdoor sports complex that can be a beacon for our growing youth sports culture.   

I'm also on the very basic-initial steps towards getting my RE investment business on the road, but I have spent most of my time educating myself on books, trends, and most of the culture of Real Estate investments.