I bet I could go a little more crazy on the salt and that would help.

As a drywood termite treatment tactic, seal all cracks and crevices in a structure."2.

I am liking NWA as a target market but i'm still a FNG so take my opinion with a grain of salt. https://www.deptofnumbers.com/employment/metros/

I'm still in the planning/searching/learning phase of this, so take anything I say with a grain of salt. :)I would stick to places you can drive.

No worries about sealing, heat and other maintenance.

Granite may stain so you would want to seal it. 

If you'll need an architect/engineer to sign and seal/stamp permit drawings, you'll be paying twice for plans if you "find plans you like" online.

I just refilled all our salt buckets when I took down Christmas decor this week.

Quote from @Benjamin Seale: Absolutely, it's crucial to acknowledge a heightened level of risk when considering the purchase of such a property.

So, all other things equal, winter pricing would be lower in the "really really cold" regions than the warmer areas.I had a rental in Salt Lake City for many years that happened to have a few winter vacancies.