In real estate, location is everything. Whether you’re determining where to invest for the first time, where to expand your portfolio, or whether or not your current markets are still best suited for investment growth, you need a set of clear guidelines and metrics to follow.

The question of location is the biggest in real estate. We know just how important the “where” is in purchasing properties! While you want to invest in a robust and growing market, you also want to be wary of overhyped areas. Finding that sweet spot is tricky.

The real estate market as we know it seems to be settling into a “new normal,” where sellers recognize their need to make concessions and price adjustments and buyers have reluctantly accepted higher mortgage rates. That’s not to say that things won’t change – the market will continue to correct, albeit slowly.

Every stage of the real estate cycle – even recessions – provides opportunities for investors who know where to look. Your success in this business isn’t up to fate or the turning tides of the market. Ultimately, success comes down to how much you’re willing to work for what you want – and whether you take hold of the opportunities in front of you.

You may have noticed that the real estate industry seems to have taken on a tone of pessimism. Between tight inventory, rising interest rates, and the return of a buyer’s market, there has been no shortage of dismal and doomsaying headlines.

At REI Nation, we’re always on the lookout for new, exciting markets that best fit into our investor’s portfolios. Over the past few years, we’ve expanded our reach to include the likes of San Antonio, Texas, and three Alabama markets: Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Huntsville.