@Warren A.BP moderators taken note: I'm going to be describing a common dangerous phenomenon that BP may or may not want described in the forums.Warren, I would buy it, but I would make sure that I switch out that fusebox subpanel with a breaker box immediately.

If vacancy is low and decreasing and the number of building permits pulled are moderate and slightly increasing, it should mean that demand for housing is going up in that market and supply is growing but not yet saturated.To expand on this, we added absorption rate and affordability.

We don't like financial risk.Plan: we want to buy a 3 bedroom single family home in a stable, moderately-priced neighborhood like Issaquah Highlands. 

We would like either a single family home (3 bedroom/2 bathrooms) that needs mild to moderate repairs or a duplex.

I think one thing worth considering for people on this forum in particular is that, depending on the type of investment, real estate's ROI does come from appreciation, but also from buying under market value, loan amortization, free cashflow, value add, and tax benefits.Stocks mostly rely on appreciation, and also a small to moderate amount of cashflow, depending on the stock (assuming efficient markets).

Smaller towns with moderate investor activity. 

These moderators are terrible!

I got a moderate amount of interest, which was okay for me to do. 

having a sub to PLUS seller finance on a deal like this is at least moderately if not high risk. 

Prices are more moderate in those locations.