I've been searching for effective ways to attract cash/end buyers in the Dallas area, and I just wanted to know - WHAT do YOU, the investor, look for and what attracts you to a deal? 

In areas friendly too STR, mostly vacation destinations, the best locations are already established5.

Also, searching for deals, and you are right, very few seem to be out there.

You will have a larger pool of folks that say, we always like to stay at Caribe or a Phoenix property, so they will be specifically searching for those types of properties. 

The homes that I refinanced are located in Pontiac which is about 35 minutes outside of the Detroit area.

Location in SB could help determine the best direction.

Location of the property2.

Location, Location, Location.

It's a location, appreciation, and long term growth strategy in my opinion.

For example, I set up a syndicate to purchase a 21 + acre tract of land located in a major mixed use development with the intention of holding 3-8 years until we were one of the last sites to be developed.