I started with these two companies because I've heard a lot of great things about them over many posts and their respective CEO's have contributed greatly to many posts here at BP.Birmingham looks promising, population growth (while minimal) seems stable, lots of new economic activities and projects developing that will help spark the economy.Dallas/Houston surrounded by great companies however Im afraid it might be harder to find properties in these markets that have been quite hot for sometime now.

Long-term macroeconomic shifts like generational housing preferences and population growth are going to occur with or without real estate investors.

The growth is stagnant.

We’re both comfortable with our position, but we want to position ourselves for growth in the future.

It is poised for more appreciation and rental growth. 

For 2016, these were the top 10 real estate markets to watch.https://www.trulia.com/blog/10-hot-real-estate-markets-to-watch-in-2016/They looked at five metrics: strong job growth over the past year, low vacancy rates, high affordability, more inbound home searches than outbound, and a large share of millennials.

I don't live in Raleigh but excited about the growth this area has seen.I am looking to diversify my investment and want to buy my second rental investment property in this area.

Will be mainly mom and pop type properties that are hard to run from afar.If it is not a 1031 exchange why not invest with a sponsor or split the money into multiple higher quality projects with equity growth potential?

Don't inhibit your own growth on account of someone elses issues.

Always looking to network and growth in knowledge