The common trend I've found is, the more you know the better off you are. 

I'm not saying you'll win every one, but I haven't noticed a trend and I tend to do a lot of the low down payment type of loans.

However, if you don't do your homework and just follow the crowd/buzzwords/trends then an out of state investment could bop turn out really bad (for that mutter, so will an in-state investment)

I'm certainly no expert in all specific markets, but looking at macro economic forces combined with vegas specific forces I remain convinced that Las Vegas is one of the best cities to live in going forward, and I believe it is on an upward trend going forward.

I am sure there would be an impact of job growth trends/ population on a particular neighborhood but I don't know how I would be able to tell from 3000 miles away.So here's an example and perhaps my give back to BP community here:Trump during his visit to China signed a huge financial investment package, according to which China will invest billions of dollars into US.

Just saw it in my email. https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/housing-trends-2018/?

I would try to stay close to the downtown if you can.Northern Bergen County doesn’t have much multi-family stock in general and the continued trend of low inventory isn’t helping.Some things I don’t like about condos.

That is why I was trying to analyze what the surrounding neighborhood pricing trends are currently.

Read this: http://labor.alaska.gov/trends/jan18.pdfIf an LNG pipeline is going to get funded and built, anybody holding property today will be extra glad for it in the next few years. 

As for interest rate risk in the current rate environment, the trend of rising rates typically leads lenders to shorten their terms.  3 to 5 years in your example.