@Symone Wright I would start by looking at the market's fundamentals, that is the population, job and income growth over time.

When looking at the demographics of South Milwaukee, Cudahy and St Francis, they don't really pop on a spreadsheet, whereas Oak Creek, Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Brookfield have the sexy numbers they look for (median income, population growth, job opportunities, disposal income, schools excl. mke). 

My research suggests there still isn't enough affordable housing along the sunshine belt where much of the job growth and population growth is flowing.

I first filtered areas of interest, growth and overall job development.

So rather than shooting in the dark, I thought I'd ask for guidance.I'm looking for an region where the median income is at least 3x the median rent prices, where less than 12% of the population is below the poverty line, and where the population growth over the last ten years exceeds 10%.

So rather than shooting in the dark, I thought I'd ask for guidance.I'm looking for an region where the median income is at least 3x the median rent prices, where less than 12% of the population is below the poverty line, and where the population growth over the last ten years exceeds 10%.

Good location for me is an area with stable employment base, steady population growth and I like houses near schools or parks.

Seems like with the addition to the convention center as well as the growth downtown, Airbnb may be more lucrative than rentals.

BUT, at the same time you had equity growth of say 5K per year from loan paydown and modest appreciation, so another 10% ROI.

Job growth is one of the biggest indicators of where a real estate market is headed.