I'm a new investor and I also currently work in the pool and spa industry.

This is a quick way to gauge the health of the market.And of course, talk to local realtors.

Birmingham also stands out with its diversified economy—from finance to health care and universities—and a metro population that supports rental demand (Home Bay, Wikipedia).

With family, currently taking care of my dad that has parkinsons and other health problems.

Focus on Health & Safety First • Electrical hazards, roof leaks, HVAC issues, or plumbing concerns carry more weight than cosmetic items.

So...Who will you call to fix your gate, what management system are you using, what is your advertising budget for the property, who many employees will you have on site, what is your retail mix, how many carts will you own on the property, what is your balance of interior climate controlled and exterior units, will you allow RV and boat storage, how do you handle someone living in a unit or running a business from your self storage unit, what is the real demand for storage in that market, does your client base have enough expendable income to afford storage and/or absorb your rent increases, how long of free rent or other promotions are you providing to get your units full, are you planning on expanding the property, how much are you co-investing, what are your fees, what is your carried interest, what relationships do you have with brokers or owners, what markets are you focused on, how are you different than the hundreds of other self storage syndicators, how much time are you dedicating to this venture versus your "day job", do you have the net worth to secure a loan yourself, what terms are you finding for the loans, are you providing the personal guarantee or relying on someone else, fixed or floating rate, what auction company are you using for unit sales, what have you done professionally that would give me the confidence that you will figure this out on the fly, how frequently are you paying distributions, how can i monitor the health of my investment, how frequently will I be getting updates, do you have an investor portal, have you setup a website and professional email address, who is your management company, how many did you interview before settling on them, how many are operating in that market in case you need to replace them, will this be branded units or creating your own brand...At the end of the day, the reason you will be raising money from your friends and family is because they typically won't even know to ask these questions. 

You need to get away from AI and seek mental health assistance from a human.But I understand you'll just find that comment offensive.

Renovated houses with multiple bedrooms and off-street parking do especially well.Pittsburgh also punches above its weight as a medical hub with UPMC, Allegheny Health Network, and the new children's hospital.

Does this mean we need to double down on local median-home-price health, employment data, and insurance vulnerabilities (especially in storm-prone places)?

I guess if I move to a LCOL area of the USA  I could possibly live on my rental cash flow, but unknowns with ACA and tax credits and health care costs make me apprehensive.