The big driver in value is job growth, so do your due diligence on the city...in the end it all boils down to supply and demand on both appreciation and rents.Maybe some of the active landlords around here can tell you better than I can, though.

Your money comes from your tenant, a truck driver.

The underwriter is going to look at your address on your tax returns, W2's/1099's, Paystubs, Bank statements and drivers license.

If you are buying a new house 20 to 25 minutes from downtown HSV or MAD, you are unlikely to see any significant appreciation for a while, as new builds have already become way more expensive in the past year, and there are a ton of them far outside the downtown areas. 

Then you get to the end of it a few years later now your equity you thought you had you don't have. the first is in the driver's seat will normally get most of what their owed... the second though can and does often get crammed down with the stroke of a BK judge pen.   

There are still 1% deals, but the more attractive part is the population growth and other economic drivers!

It seems like the new(ish) corridor to the beach could be a big driver for appreciation up there, but that we haven't seen allot of it yet.  

This is where you get all your mail, have your drivers license registered to, etc. 

Tenants are happy to have unlimited hot water and save a few dollars (gas vs electric).The main driver, in this situation clearly was space.  

Tenant is extremely shocked and mad, is there anything else we can do?