Choosing a Rental Market- Analysis Paralysis!

[Alex Johnson]

Hello everyone, 

I am looking to purchase my first investment property this year and am having some trouble deciding on a market. I know to look for areas that are landlord friendly, have population/job growth, limited seasonal/environmental issues, high rent/price ratio, and areas within my budget (under $200Kish). However, my issues run into seeing a few markets that look good and then I can't seem to finalize my decision on which is better or where to really focus my time searching. So far I've been interested in Cleveland, Columbus, Birmingham, and Memphis. 

Am I missing anything in my criteria? Does anyone have a system they use to filter through the endless available markets and narrow down your options to something a bit more manageable? Any words of wisdom are welcomed too!

[Henry Clark]

Your best market, best returns, best risk/reward as a first time investor is where you live and your own housing.  You have far more options than a larger investor.