They ignore that we create jobs, create affordable housing, and stimulate the economy so much that the net result is that tax revenues increase.

Message me, I can tell you what areas will generally yield the best appreciation due to economic growth.

Understand the demand, rental growth potential, and economic factors in the area.

I mentioned to him that I wanted to get started with investing via wholesaling and after some chatting, he brought up his willingness to be a paid mentor for me to get my first deal.He said he would teach me Real Estate Economics, investor psychology, and how to find and build the right product/deal for an investorHe charges $150 a call if I book a batch of calls or $195 a call if I book one at a time.

Reno makes sense from a tax and insurance and economic growth perspective and also proximity to family but it's not a place I've fallen in love with despite spending two weeks there (one week last winter and one week more recently in the summer).

Is there not strong economic growth in this area? 

It is the masses who do not have a basic understanding of economics.  

Economics on both probably didn't make sense. 

To perk your situational awareness and switch you to economically enabled I need you to read Read the 2015 NAR Danger Report.  

While it only returns 5.23% currently, it provides a great cushion allowing sufficient time to wait out a crash without having to resort to selling properties at inopportune times - at fire sale prices.5- I keep a large part of my portfolio in high yielding notes secured by real property - and while I want every loan to make payments as agreed, my experience indicates that a certain percentage will default with me owning the property during periods of economic contraction.