Hey Geo,

Your logic is solid on the high level. Both Cleveland and El Paso can work for 3 and 4 unit buy and hold properties in the price range you are targeting, but they offer different strengths.

Cleveland currently shows tighter vacancy, stronger recent rent growth, higher cap rates, and lower entry prices, which supports better near term cash flow. The trade off is slower population and job growth plus lower safety scores in many areas, so street by street selection and a strong local team matter a lot.

El Paso has higher vacancy and slightly lower caps, but better demographic growth, stronger safety numbers, and more landlord friendly conditions. If you may eventually move back to Texas, that personal angle adds some strategic value beyond pure numbers.

The composite scores in the table favor El Paso slightly, mainly because of safety and growth factors. For pure cash flow today, Cleveland often looks stronger on paper. The real difference will come down to the specific neighborhoods, true operating expenses (taxes, insurance, management), and the quality of your local property manager and agent.

I would pressure test both markets with recent sold comps, actual rent rolls from local managers, and a clear picture of insurance and tax trends before deciding. Visiting or at least having trusted boots on the ground in the final market is usually worth it for the first few purchases.