2008 effected real estate values due to all the foreclosures on loans that never should have been made and variable interest rates going up to make payments unaffordable for many people.During recessions people tend to stay closer to home and not do as much international travel.I would venture a guess that some place as popular as the smokies would be about as recession proof as you can get.

My other 2 primary investment choices have taken a beating (I might as well say what they are because I have stated them in past posts: Mineral rights in North Dakota (basically gas) and stocks). 

Buy and hold has been my primary choice for education into the real estate industry.

@Lucas Carl means some people may not have a choice in their travel plans.

It's definitely one career choice that has paid dividends in my REI lifespan.

What is very popular, ...each month, upon receiving a payment, I promptly send an "email receipt", with an updated payment schedule (my tenant-buyers "depend on these monthly email receipts" --- "they love it"!)

It was a great place in a popular neighborhood and then I had to move back to California so I just kept it there and I am currently renting out here. 

People, real estate investing isn’t a darned popularity contest or social media attention grabber.

I work in corporate America and have co-workers in their early 30's that are paycheck to paycheck because of their lifestyle choices. 

I have a few short term rentals, and they are incredibly popular.