Is it a booming market? 

My personal opinion is "cheap money" and "tax incentives" boomed building more than supply and demand fundamentals the past 4 years.

I live in Odessa Tx where we have a housing crisis at the moment because of the oil boom.

East Cleveland is pure cash flow with minimal appreciation for the time being but if and when University Circle does expand the prices may boom.

My father in law and husband bought it as an "investment" 20 years ago speculating that once Sullivan County gets a casino permit business would be booming.. here we go the casino is finally being built but I don't see the area turning around any time soon.. 

The boom has truly began, JC heights etc are now untouchable.

With Europe looking more and more like it is sliding into recession, the surging dollar and the Saudis not cutting back on their much cheaper to produce crude oil production, there is a potential for the fracking boom to end. 

I hold a broker license in IL and an attorney license in CA.Initially in 2005, during the boom, I purchased a principle residence in San Jose, CA which jumped 100k, so I took out equity for investing.

Or they are in heavy boom/bust cycle areas, and your values flex a lot.

If its during the boom years, and they used high percentage loans, its probably underwater now.