Investment into a town.
So I live in a small town in southeast Missouri named Piedmont. The town has had it's ups and downs in the last 60 years but right now it's at a point in time where it's at it's lowest. It's lowest being back in 2015-2016 where the local Wal-Mart closing where the town lost about 80 jobs. But the town is starting to get a spike up, it's starting to get new businesses in town and more people in town. So I am wondering with a lot of people in here would any of you invest in a town like this one or just leave it for a bigger major city? (edit, spelling and some grammar.)
[{"id": "evs330g", "text": "I\u2019m sure it\u2019s a lovely town with great people, but most RE investment firms probably wouldn\u2019t do it. And here\u2019s why: what\u2019s the draw? The town has a population of less than 2K and is in the middle of the Mark Twain National Forest. I\u2019m speculating here, but I\u2019m going to assume that there\u2019s not a major factory (Gigafactory/TRIC\u2014&gt;Reno)  that was just built near by or a significant tech presence. RE investors want growth and at the end of the day that comes down to population and wages.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "evsgtk7", "text": "If you\u2019re asking if you should invest, it\u2019s hard for us to say bc you know your town better than we do! \n\nI live in a small-ish town in PA, former resort area turned bedroom community since it\u2019s about 90 mins from NYC. One day I was working on a property near the street, and a guy pulls over and asks for directions back to the highway. I tell him, and then he says \u201ccan I ask you something.. what do people DO in this town? There\u2019s like nothing here, how do they get money??\u201d \n\nIt made me think about the macroeconomics of an area.. ok, for me to do work as a contractor, the customer needs to have money.. where do they get it from?? If they work for a business that services other business, where does that business get money to pay them?  On and on..\n\nYou need cash to flow into your town, and you need to see how that revenue is going to grow.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "evslyni", "text": "Read the book Boomtown USA to see unique ways small towns have reshaped themselves economically, but if you\u2019re pitching for others to come in and invest, that\u2019s a hard sell.", "replies": [{"id": "evz5lal", "text": "Sounds like an interesting book , thanks for the recommendation", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "evszcgj", "text": "Cash flow is usually excellent.  Appreciation nill, or depreciate.  \n\nDepends on your goals.  \n\nCash flow (res.) is almost always guaranteed but appreciation is not, even in the best markets.  \n\nPick your poison!", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "evtlkdz", "text": "Thanks for all the really good comments and it was more of a me investing and others if they wanted. But I don't expect anyone out of the area  to want to invest in this town anyway. I am just wanting to see it thrive and become more then what it has been in the past. One of these days I will invest in one if the buildings and make something great out of it.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ew1f61v", "text": "Sounds like it could be risky investing there .. but then with risk there could possibly be high returns if there is a lot of growth .\nWhat are the new businesses ? \n\nOne thing is pretty much everywhere in the country is doing quite well. \n\nI think it\u2019s good to invest in a market with diversified industries - buying near a hospital of colleges can be good for example as they rarely close or go out of business .\n\nIs there any tourist interest in the town ? \nMaybe doing something in the hospitality business ?\nIt\u2019s unlikely anyone here has knowledge of the local market since it\u2019s a small town . \n\nTry to find local investment groups in the area , maybe contact the local government offices find out what their plans are .", "replies": [{"id": "ew1ha4x", "text": "Yeah back in the 50s this town was UFO central and there is a man made lake here called Clearwater. The main thing that happens in this town is a fall festival that tends to bring in a lot of people. Last year was the bicentennial for the county so that really helped out the festival. The local new businesses are small stores and just a week ago someone announced they are renovating one of the buildings to make it a coffee shop. Also this town is small so there is no hospitals and or colleges. Just a grade school and a couple doctor offices.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "f358w1e", "text": "I would recommend saving up as much money as you can and buy a house in Cape Girardeau near the university.  You'll be able to find a steady supply of renters downtown including from the college kids.  You're not too far from Piedmont and downtown Cape is actually a quite pleasant place to live.\n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\nStay away from Piedmont, you'll be stuck holding real estate and will never be able to sell, growth rates are also abysmal.  Cape is a small market but there's enough local players to create some liquidity.  Lot's of exciting projects happening around town as well.  I have family that owns several investment property in town and they have solid cash flow.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fc9qqxy", "text": "Random update a couple of months ago they put in the local paper that the old Walmart building's address has gotten three Medical Marijuana licenses so they will most likely be using that building for selling, growing, and testing there product in it. just thought I would drop that in here.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]