Seattle & the Cascade Mountains are down about 20%.

The city, which has one of the highest numbers of homes classified as secondary or vacation homes, boasts plenty of outdoor amenities such as lakes and mountain trails.https://www.rgj.com/story/news...So, quit a few STR's do exist, some folks in Big Bear Lake are apparently posting signs that say "Neighborhoods Need Neighbors" because, and I'm paraphrasing here, they no longer have neighbors, only STR's.

My next job was as an operations manager here in Houston before returning to real estate full time just this month.While I enjoyed flying, and the atmosphere and steady paycheck of construction, as well as the ability to be part of a project and see it grow from a thought or plan to an actual building, I just keep returning to real estate because of the people, freedom, and opportunities. 

My family lives in Clarkston, but I know the Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Conyers, Snellville, Decatur and Atlanta (near Howell Mill) areas pretty well.

The positive atmosphere really helps!

But, as a realtor in the Banner Elk/ Beech Mountain area, I know that investors are doing really well here.

I think this market is pretty saturated similar to all of these other mountain markets but it has flexibility because there is a long term rental market there as well. 

Summers are hot but you can go to the lakes, rivers or be up in the cool mountains in no time.

Really trying to avoid making a self-serving post, but can't help myself because I have a real issue with the mountain of books that try to sell the idea that you can get rich overnight in real estate -- with no cash, no effort, and no investment of time to learn how to do it right."

It may not provide the immediate rental returns that other cities do but may provide more rent growth, appreciation, and due to it being a mountain community, may provide Air BnB opportunities, especially in winter.