Potential for growth in the cities year over year with good chance of appreciating.

Is there strong rent growth in the area, or is it declining or just sideways? 

WA, central (sunny side) LOLPros- No state income tax, low property taxes (1% ish), cheap power, no floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes or humidity, low crime, good appreciation, good job growth and per capita income. 

We sell a lot of those all across the US paying attention to good growth areas.

You want a market with JOBS, population growth, and diverse employment.

Learn how to find the data you need, rent trends, market rents, vacancy rates, population growth, job growth, etc. 

I know tourism is still be there because of the Smokies, but are there other things that have been contributing to the home value growth over the last 10 years or so?

Hi Ashley,I'm speaking out of my zone here because I'm a buy-and-hold investor here in LA, but from what I understand, you can really supercharge your growth by having greatest access to money.

The amount of time spent managing the day-to-day hinders the ability to grow the portfolio/ scale the business! 

Most of the developers I represent in NYC and most of my multifamily investments are targeted at the ripple effect - looking at where the growth is headed over the next 12-24 months and buying there now.