Stay in the same housing plan, school district, etc.Don't just look at sold comps, also look for active, contingent, and under contract listings.

I’m old school and pen and paper all my expenses then jam a receipt in a folder for each property.

Now a giant city 250,000 people and home to Cowboys, Stars, FC Dallas, minor league baseball, lots of companies, new Universal Studios theme park and something like 10 high schools now...big high schools. 

@Christopher MorrisTo assess a market, consider population growth, job market, economic growth, rent-to-price ratio, cost of living, school districts, and growth benchmarks.

Unfortunately, you said some magic words that chum's the waters so que the "please contact me PLEASE CONTACT ME" replies vs actually answering to what you posted...... 

But yes, attacking my deficiency in English absolutely opens a vortex in space and time that magically makes everything you say correct regardless of, ya know, reality.  

I still cash flow positive but I have held onto this home more for appreciation - it's in a nice suburb with great schools and lots of development. 

In San Jose I think that lowers the school fees cost/taxes etc.

The City schools are awful but that's not unusual in Ohio due to our school funding quagmire.  

Congratulations (or maybe I should say "My condolences") 🤣Growing any business is pretty similar; there's nothing magic about being a GC.