So your market advice resonates with me.   

Are the rental markets in these smaller cities sustainable for long term renting or are vacancy rates higher?

I don't think that is sustainable nor proportional to my actual increased annual expenses.

Real estate values have continued to climb, even through 2008-2009Financials: Performed Craigslist/comp rent study and was getting 6-10 craigslist responses per day when raising rents to $1,300 (2br) and $1,500 (3br)2br is currently locked into annual lease at $950I intend to occupy the 3br side of duplex for year 1, move to the 2br side for year 2, and hope the property is self-sustaining (w/ property management) by year 3.I currently pay $1,600 in rent in Boulder COQuestions: Clearly this is more of an appreciation play from an investment perspective; am I saddling too much risk?

This is especially true of many duplexes but is much more sustainable with 4+ units.

Some people prefer the more C class neighborhoods for stronger cash flow and more exponential appreciation (which I don't think is sustainable long term but who knows as affordable housing becomes in such demand).Some of the neighborhood grading from my personal opinion is below:B Class NeighborhoodsGrove City EAST (N: I-270 | E: I-71 | S: London Groveport Rd | W: Route 62)Merion Village SOUTH - 43206/07 (N: Thurman Ave | E: Parsons Ave | S: E Morrill Ave | W: S Wall St)Berwick (N: E Livingston | E: James Rd | S: I-70 | W: Alum Creek)Olde Towne East NORTH (N: E Broad St | E: S Champion Ave | S: E Main St | W: I-71)Franklin Park (N: E Broad St | E: Alum Creek | S: E Main St | W: Wilson Ave)King-Lincoln Bronzeville SOUTH (N: E Long St | E: Taylor Ave | S: E Broad St | W: I-71)Woodland Park SOUTH (N: Greenway Ave | E: Railroad east of Woodland Ave | S: Broad St | W: Taylor Ave)Milo Grogan WEST (N: E 5th Ave | E: I-71 | S: I-670 | W: Railroad west of Cleveland Ave)Franklinton MIDDLE (N: W Broad St | E: 315-N | S: Sullivant Ave | W: Glenwood Ave Railroad)Fifth By Northwest/University View/Lincoln Heights (N: Kinnear Rd | E: Rt-315 | S: W 3rd Ave |W: N Star/Glen Ave)Weinland Park (N: E 11th Ave | E: Railroad east of Cromartie Ln | S: E 5th Ave | W: N High St) The Ohio State University EAST OF SUMMITThe Ohio State University WEST OF SUMMITOld North Columbus/SOHUD/Tuttle Park/Glen Echo (N: Glen Echo Creek | E: Railroad east of N4th St | S: W Lane Ave | W: Olentangy River)Riverview/south of N.

Is this sustainable?

-DIY solutions for buying and selling apartments/houses-How to earn with your home (not just renting but for instance providing electricity back to the grid, …)-Joint building ventures-Real-estate crowdfunding-Green and sustainable solutions as an overarching theme

I hope all my fellow BP community are safe and thriving. I have been part of BP for over 8+ years with very minimal activity as It's been super busy building my multifamily portfolio and barely got a chance to log in ...

@Jarrod Ochsenbein invest in a martlet that is sustainable, cheaper and scalable with an agent who can give good advice and guidance based off of market conditions!