I'm having fun with the nitty details (logos) to shaping my LAPS  .I'm currently scanning 11 areas in Loudoun County area to get to know the inventory and demographics.   

If you are moving soon, you'd target a community outside of DC like Fredericksburg, and go to city-data.com and Redfin.com and start getting a feel for the demographics.

Nobody is building sf houses that size anymore and there is a huge demographic who needs them.

So many cross current forces at play, demographics(older western pop. buying less stuff), offshore banking system,shadow banking system, private equity, reserve currency status, the credit cycle(business cycle) oil price inputs, etc.Also agree that supply/demand will push prices where they naturally want to be, but i am making a case against MASSIVE inflation, at least in short term (3yrs?)

Or the economic demographics in the area is changing for the negative.There are some that thrive with these cheap properties.  

demographics change lots of things can happen in that industry just like any industry.. and for sure burnt out landlords create opportunity for new blood coming in.  

You may start considering the parameters such as financing required, your ability to manage vs outsourcing that, property taxes, availability of properties to invest in, demographics, etc, etc, etc.

Demographics in each ZIP,?

@Lesley Whitley both of those areas can cash flow well in the short to mid term due to the low entry point but both have weak economic and demographic trends.

Existing no-collar tenants are being priced out as prices and rents increase.South Warren (south of I-696) meet these criteria, north of I-696 is higher demographics and tough to find Rent-Price Ratio meeting the 1% Rule.You should really read our Deep Dive Series here on BP which covers all this, city-by-city.