This episode features a solo session with John Casmon, where he draws on personal investing experience in markets like Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, and San Antonio to share a deep-dive framework for evaluating which markets to invest in, and how to spot the signs of long-term growth. From understanding economic indicators and infrastructure to aligning your personal investing style with neighborhood dynamics, this episode is packed with strategic guidance on identifying the right market — and the right moment — to make your move. Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here. Key Takeaways Start by investing in your own backyard, local familiarity and access outweigh national trends early on. Use "path of progress" logic to spot adjacent neighborhoods with similar fundamentals but lower prices. Look for population growth, industry diversification, infrastructure investment, and pro-development policies. Understand your own investing goals to determine what kind of markets and submarkets align with your criteria. Ride the coattails of developers and large employers, when they commit to a market, opportunity follows. Topics Why Market Selection Matters Why investing close to home gives you an advantage How John evaluated neighborhoods like North Center, Avondale, and Hermosa in Chicago Expanding Beyond Your City Lessons from shifting to Cincinnati and using family ties to anchor new market exploration The importance of clarity on investor criteria before analyzing new areas What Makes a Market Attractive Key indicators: population growth, job diversity, geographic accessibility Red flags: rent control, oversupply, misaligned development Case Studies: Cincinnati, Louisville, San Antonio The impact of infrastructure and corridor development in Cincinnati How recession-resistant industries shaped John's decision to invest in Louisville Why San Antonio's "quiet strength" made it a strategic move Using Public Data to Guide You Sites John uses: census.gov, bls.gov, datausa.io How to track local chambers of commerce, development plans, and funding incentives What to Avoid or Watch Closely Risks of relying on government subsidies or unstable funding Importance of local political climate and long-term planning by municipalities 📢 Announcement: Learn about our Apartment Investing Mastermind here. Next Steps Research your backyard market before expanding elsewhere Align your criteria (cash flow vs. appreciation, investor type) before evaluating a market Track macro indicators (population, jobs) and micro conditions (local policy, neighborhood dynamics) Thank you for joining us for another great episode! If you're enjoying the show, please LEAVE A RATING OR REVIEW, and be sure to hit that subscribe button so you don't miss an episode.
