Regarding asset prices, I realize the SF Bay Area is a unique animal (geographically constrained land, bound by oceans and mountains, and it has Silicon Valley as well as difficult development requirements - it's a unique ecosystem, that's for sure) but it doesn't seem to me that rent control has negatively affected prices that much.

Values are determined in July of the previous year, and properties are rarely visited in person by provincial appraisers.For this reason, provincial property assessments should never be solely relied upon as any sort of relevant indicator of true market value for the purposes of purchase, sale or financing.Think of the assessed value instead as something akin to a weather forecast, spanning far larger and more diverse areas than the unique ecosystem that is your neighbourhood, your specific street, or your specific property.

We have some exposure to the architecture/contractor ecosystem through my wife's work and have a family member who is our MLS access point, but we are hoping to deepen our knowledge and broaden our network.I've found a few Minneapolis related posts so thanks in advance to the folks who started those threads as I've already found them very informative.

Seriously man, one of the things that frustrates me about the ecosystem of real estate investing is the number of gadgets and services that you don't need but guru's and real estate influencers make it seems like they are THE key to your success.

Accountability for hosts and guests is one of the most important features of the STR ecosystem.

So the trees in San Antonio are part of a much greater eco-system, even your hometown Montreal's eco-system (but it looks like your birds winter in Miami and the Fla.

Whatever ecosystem you are using has an answer. 

So if you're into the whole Silicon Valley ecosystem, as they like to call it, and you want to have that familiarity about you, you go to Austin.

is it to keep clients in your eco system so they don't work with others? 

The ecosystem surrounding and supporting Tesla will need somewhere to live, and it's the half way point between Houston and Austin.