@Katie Marshall too broad a question.

Real estate is so localized, asking a broad question like this is hard to answer and no one has that crystal ball. 

That's an increadibly broad set of questions. 

Those funds will be trapped in that plan until such time as you change jobs or continue working with that employer past age 59 1/2.A self-directed IRA allow for retirement savings to be invested more broadly than just the stock market, but it does not sound as if you would have the ability to move funds to such a plan.

While I acknowledge that economic strength is just one facet of a good rental market, it is a major factor and I wanted to share what I've found (the details of my methodology and raw data can be found after the various rankings):Top 10 best economiesProvo-Orem, UTSalt Lake City, UTCharlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SCChicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WIDallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TXKansas City, MO-KSLongview, TXLouisville/Jefferson County, KY-INSan Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CABirmingham-Hoover, ALThere were two main factors to overall economic strength that I looked at – how diverse/broad the economy is and how many economic drivers (i.e. strength) the area has.

"Houston" is a broad city.

I'm very interested in the idea, broadly speaking.

That’s a really broad question.

Along Broadway about 1.5 miles North of Broad Street station.

How to Invest is a broad overview of all investing strategies that includes case studies and examples.