Higher property taxes compound the expense for buyers, making affordability harder to achieve.

I am only 36 years old so I can afford to wait and hold.  

All the markets you mentioned are solid choices for affordability and long-term growth potential.If you’re looking to narrow it down, consider Indianapolis or Columbia, SC, as both have strong rental demand, landlord-friendly laws, and stable economies.

Negotiate seller concessions, consider affordable markets, and focus on long-term equity growth through appreciation and loan paydown.

I plan to leave them enough that they can afford to buy a house or start a nest egg, but I am not leaving large sums to them.

The prices are still really affordable compared to other cities, but you get solid rental income potential.

My partner and I are very interested in single family homes, As we enter into a volatile real estate market we are focused on families and creating wealth through selling affordable homes.

Also, the amount of damage was so expensive to repair that he simply could not afford to fix the more damaged units.

STR can provide more cash (potentially), but its a high risk high reward strategy - if you invest in the furniture, staging, photos, and management or self manage, there is a lot of time and money invested.

@Jamie BanksI understand there are multiple parties: 1) displaced insurance policy holder (tenants)  2) ALE 3) The company that supplies all the furniture and install the washer and dryer.