@Sophie WallHey Sophie — I don’t work in Cheyenne, but I focus on Midwest markets and use similar fundamentals when evaluating long-term rentals: stable job growth, affordable entry prices relative to rents, and consistent tenant demand.

How to look at the fundamentals hope that makes sense thanks Hey @Andrew Mullikin, welcome to the BP Forum!

Grand Rapids has solid fundamentals — job growth, schools, medical hubs — and the appreciation trend you mentioned isn’t hype.

For me, picking a market with strong fundamentals made it a lot easier to scale into 10+ rentals and not stress about whether I’d personally want to vacation there.

If your plan is to hold the property long-term, the financing structure and cash flow potential make it much more reasonable than if you were planning to sell in just a few years.You’ll want to be more cautious about overpaying on future deals, but getting your first property under your belt, especially one with financing in place and decent fundamentals, can be a great learning experience and a solid start.

Today, in the Midwest, some similar fundamentals are showing up, affordable entry prices paired with steady rental demand and motivated sellers, so it can be a good signal for investors looking for long-term growth opportunities.

My name is Ben Lemer, and I’m here to learn and grow in the world of real estate investing.I’m still fairly new to the space even though I have been around here since 2017, but I’ve been motivated to start because I want to learn the industry and build long-term wealthRight now, my main goals are: Learning the fundamentals of investing strategies Networking with like-minded investors Gaining insights from those who are already doing dealsI’m looking forward to connecting with others, asking questions, and contributing where I can.If you could give your younger self one piece of advice when starting out in real estate, what would it be?

The fundamentals of strong jobs, lifestyle, and demand haven’t changed.

Look at stale listings and price-reduced units.For current owners: trim expenses and keep units top-tier — travelers are getting picky again.For STR operators: underwrite conservatively (60–65 % annual occupancy) and keep a buffer for slower winter months.The fundamentals — beautiful beaches, limited land, and steady tourism — are still unbeatable.

Areas like Riverside and Springfield see success in this method, as long as rehab adds enough value to justify refinancing.Bonus: You may even explore “AirBnBRRRR” in coastal neighborhoods like Jacksonville Beach—capitalizing on short-term rental premiums.Your Jacksonville Market SnapshotStrong fundamentals: A diversified economy with military bases, logistics, finance, and healthcare supports consistent renter demand and long-term appreciation.Rental dynamics: Although rent growth has slowed a bit, demand remains strong.