We are looking into getting into mid-term rentals and fix & flips next, along with most likely house hacking a duplex in the next year or so, preferably in the Los Angeles or Orange County region since that is the market I am most familiar with.

There are plenty of duplexes in the Northeast PA region that are affordable.

@Allen Watson....on refinances - the  values  are  close  ( +/- ) 10% maybe ....forget about it  on  purchases   due to  the  bidding  wars  generating  purchase prices well over  zestimates  ( pnw region) 

Laura Fleischer of Remax in southern Maine (Lakes region.)

Laura Fleischer of Remax in southern Maine (Lakes region.)

Hey Alex I can't speak much about the other markets, but I can for Albany, I guess it depends on what you think no appreciation looks like but appreciation has been stronger than ever in these last few years, mainly do to the low inventory and the strong influx of investors and residence from NYC sending most of the quality properties into multiple offers situations in the Capital Region not only Albany.... which I don't see stopping anytime soon.  

I am now offering them a rent to own, so they can fulfill their dream of owning their place of business.I am involved in a mastermind now and learning a lot about how to handle things more professionally:- identifying a deal with value add opportunity - a "unicorn",- test driving the property during due diligence - see if the vacancies could be rented,- replace mom and pop with regional/national tenants.Would love to read the story of your first deal!

We like small multifamilies, but we're also open to figuring out what makes the most sense in our region, as we feel comfortable and familiar in the Providence metro area (We feel a sense of community here with lots of friends and families, which are the main reason we moved back here from Massachusetts).

Markets we think are great that are going to continue appreciate typically are in the midwest, we found that Iowa in the des moines region is an up and comer particularly :)

Unfortunately, there aren't many 2-4 family products in the region.