Hey Ned.While researching on becoming a S8 Landlord, I saw you have to submit an application to each state you desire to become a S8 landlord in? 

Open layouts are highly desirable because they improve the flow of the home and make it feel larger and more modern.

I'm assuming if it is an str it is in a desirable area where you will get people who just want it and won't worry as much about how all the numbers work.

Tenants are typically blue collar and many of them are recently employed by the recent boom in logistics and warehousing that is going on in the area (link below to a video I saw on Twitter that actually calls out Eastern PA warehousing as a desirable investment).There’s definitely a decent amount of investment going on and I’ve seen prices jump even in the past few years so competition is growing as people catch on.https://youtu.be/Yvi4MPHcwj0

It can work, but probably not in the time span you desire.  

I now realize that this is only attainable in highly desirable locations and with larger or more unique properties.

It's not the most expensive market, but it's also not the one that makes the most sense for my goals and desired investment.

It covers their possessions and the lifestyle they desire.

I want to know if these areas remain desirable for investment if they are safe, and if they offer strong prospects for future appreciation.

After analyzing the local Mercer County market I've noticed there are not that many MFH that are desirable meaning cash flow can occur, but appreciation, schools and good tenants will be at risk.