It's rapidly growing and great options for investment and cash flowing properties.

California gets a lot of hate on these boards, but the returns can be massive when you consider the rapid rate of appreciation.

How has everyone’s experience been investing in Cedar Rapids?

Right now I'm looking into Kalamazoo, Big Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Mt Pleasant.

Tenants crack them and then it's difficult to match the colors as they are changed so rapidly these days.

I personally own properties in Metro Detroit, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids.  

Adding enough value to a property to be able to pull out your up front cash on a 75% LTV refinance on it is really, really hard without the tailwind of rapid appreciation.

I live in the Grand Rapids area as well.

I hear a lot of hype around metro-Detroit, and I'm wondering if you have an opinion on investing in Grand Rapids and surrounding areas, particularly Muskegon which seems to be on the rise.

Add to that the principle you are banking away each month and the tortoise becomes the rabbit pretty rapidly.