Given that the big cities seem to be having a hard time controlling their runaway housing prices, and given that Western Mass isn't that far away and will be better connected by rail soon (to NYC), and given that there are many jobs/household configurations that require just one foot in the door in the City, I think if you pick the right spots in Western MA you will see some genuine appreciation....

I myself hadn't worked a legal job for three years, I just couldn't make enough to support a household that way.

I was interested in investing in a market like Orlando : Median Sales Price: $115,000Median Rent Per Month: $1050Median Household Income: $42,418Population: 255,4831-Year Job Growth Rate: 4.6%1-Year Appreciation Rate: 12.6%3-Year Appreciation Rate: 38.4%Here comes the catch, I could not afford or have the time to be traveling back and forth from California to Florida routinely to manage the property, etc.

For retail you would consider, vacancy and rental rates, area demographics like household income and household size, age, etc.

Population Colorado Springs, CO MSA Population 724000 Pop Growth % 2010-2018 13.2 Pop Growth Forecast (5yrs) 1.3 % 18-34 Year Olds 26.9 Jobs Industry Diversity Rank 150 Industry Diversity Score 74.29 Unemployment 3.4 Best Cities Rank 58 Job Growth 2018-2019 2.9 5 Year Forecast Income Growth 4.2 Demographics/Crime Median Household Income 58158 % Renters 42.3 Crime Rate (violent/1000) 5.35 Crime Rate (Property/1000) 32.96 Rental Info Vacancy Rate 5.9 4&5 Star Effective Rent 1376 3 Star Effective Rent 1066 12 Mo.

I've seen many a politician claim to live in another household(separate from their spouse) to run for office in a particular district.

I have a certain ratio per100 headcount (not households, not age, not sex) I use when decidingto buy or build in a town.

“Due to high home prices, stagnating job and household income growth, and ongoing development hurdles, Austin continues to lose out on economic development opportunities to surrounding suburban markets.

While there are many times where multi-tasking isn't the best, listening to a podcast or audiobook while driving, during household chores, or yard work is worthwhile to me.  

We have purchased and rehabbed several homes in Los Angeles county and had success in the $600,000-$1,200,000 market that exists there and are now adjusting to the median household price point here locally.