I am based out of NYC, but am currently active in the WNC market and I travel down quite frequently so would be interested in attending in-person events as well.

We've gone through and vetted the local vendors to make sure the person inspecting it isn't going to just "look for work" as this very common in these industries.

Personally, I don't like QB because it doesn't give me the info I want about cash flow.

In my opinion, going there in person can help so you can get copies of what needs to be filled out and can ask for a step-by-step process.

I don’t want to be stuck with a property in a town with no growth.

Are there plans for growth in future and any developments going on?

If this is for personal use then I'm not sure I'd entertain this idea.

It's the best way to test what you like and don't like in a low risk environment.Once you've done this, you'll probably have even more saved up and experience to make you more confident in choosing a direction.If you decide to just dive into one of these markets and strategies, I'd recommend focusing on your personality, goals (cash flow first or something else) and how much time you have.

I'm in Pasadena and we've had quite a bit of growth in the medical industry lately. 

I believe that successfully navigating this initial investment will pave the way for future opportunities, whether in the same market or elsewhere.Living in New York City, I faced a challenging market ;)I chose Montgomery, Alabama.Here's my process:I compiled a list of states with favorable landlord laws.Using Brightinvestor, I identified cities within those states where the median home price falls below the national average ($420k).I excluded cities with negative income growth and rising unemployment rates.I focused on cities with strong appreciation rates over the past five years (over 10%).I compared price-to-rent ratios.I did break two rules: Montgomery has a slight decline in population, and its largest employers are an Air Force base and government agencies.One significant factor that influenced my decision was the promising price-to-rent ratio, suggesting potential for positive cash flow (though I remain cautious about appreciation).Regarding my acquisition strategy:I plan to employ the BRRR method with cash.