Time will show which prediction is accurate.  

Did I mention that Texas is also predicted to double in size by 2050?     

Maybe I'm just in a lucky streak and the bill will come due in 5 years but right now my cash flow is much higher than the rules would predict. 

You can't predict the future and your Uber drivers might make very stable tenants while stable W-2's might lose the jobs and stop paying rents.

Also zillow and neighborhoodscout.com provide predictions for specific areas.

But it was, in a sense, predictable.  

Then, 87% of the economy was from oil; now, it's still a strong 50%, but there are other industries supporting Houston's robust economy, like the port, strong medical complex, tech, and other supporting industries, which will actually benefit from the drop in oil prices.Some are predicting the economy to slow from a 5% growth rate to between 2-3% (http://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/news/lower-oil-prices-may-cut-texas-economic-growth-by-half-in-2015/).

First off, I know that it is always up for grab when it comes to insurance claims, and you can't predict to a certainty the way a claim might go.

I would imagine this would be done at a discount, but would afford you the predictability of getting paid a year's rent at the signing of a one-year lease.

They predictably drive it into the ground with deferred maintenance issues and lousy tenants.