But that was sold before the market changed/mortgage rates escalated rapidly.  

Many big-tech companies are either moving into the market or expanding their business here, which is contributing to rapid economic development.

Check out RPOA Grand Rapids - big group of investors.

However, it’s also a market that evolves rapidly, with the advent of Local Law 18 bringing about a seismic shift in the realm of short-term rentals (STRs).

Grand Rapids is an exciting place to be right now! 

I would be remiss not to also plug Grand Rapids as a good midwest market seeing great appreciation and still good cashflow. 

Feels like a scenario with lots of potential profit.These new builds appreciated very rapidly, and the market is still very hot down here in terms of places that are listed selling. 

Twentynine Palms is growing and changing quite rapidly with Project Phoenix ( https://www.ci.twentynine-palm... ) and a lot of money and investment in the restaurants and downtown nightlife e.g. bars, gastropubs e.g.

I can literally scan square footages of properties against their price and eliminate 9 out of 10 properties almost immediately because they don’t fit the profile that I identified works best for my rentals. 

As long as you really nail down the criteria of what your looking for you should be able to build fairly rapidly, and a lot of the values that made you a successful soccer player will transfer nicely over to real estate.