With steadily growing metro areas like Columbus, OH, you can find appreciation, some cash flow, and a diverse culture to keep you entertained

Remember, they live in the places where it is most dangerous to list - those reasonably dense suburbs that have been steadily getting worse. 

You have the tech/biotech and aerospace industries bringing in a lot of jobs, the university, and the city's population is steadily growing.

It steadily loses value until it is worthless.

That said, appreciation is never a sure thing and sure prices have risen since 2010 and economy looks strong right now but, but let's face it California can be more volatile than many areas and so you may net our fine on appreciation in the near term or you may not...In general, it's best to at least be break even cash flow, then even if appreciation doesn't happen you haven't been burning cash to own the property.Dan

I'm in Texas where housing prices are steadily rising.

Sewage costs have risen and risen because the whole development's underground infrastructure is falling apart.

@Dina AbbottGold has seeing responsive buying this past year while $vix has risen.

The demand for rent in my general area is steadily growing and $1,000/month minimum is standard whether its a studio apartment or a 1/1 with a carport.

Average rent had risen ~$500/month over the previous 3 years.