The city offers a mix of high appreciation potential in certain areas and solid cash flow in others.

Since you’re already networking and have some good realtor contacts, focus on narrowing down your investment strategy (like buy-and-hold or house hacking) and target markets with solid cash flow potential.

Look for properties with high cash flow potential, good condition, and room for improvement, such as value-add opportunities.

Would it make more sense to move the money we make from selling to a different property that could potentially increase our cash flow? 

My out-of-state clients love it here because you can still find cash flowing deals hitting the 1% rule with lots of appreciation potential.

Additionally, the price point is still cheap enough to find the 1% rule and positive cash flow and there's amazing appreciation potential.

Detroit offers solid cash flow potential, a relatively low barrier to entry, and the market fundamentals are improving with a growing population and significant investments in the city.Since you’re based in upstate NY, Detroit is also a quick and easy flight, making it easier to visit and get a feel for the market if you’re considering out-of-state investing.

Without enough potential deals, metrics won’t help.

If you ever want to get into a tenant nightmare of costly potential litigation become a landlord, have the ac go out in Phoenix in July, and inform the tenant that you just don’t have the funds to replace it!.    

Do you think it's better to start sooner with a cheaper property to get in, or potentially wait longer to save more?