Philosophically, I’ve always wanted a framework to answer a simple question: Where should I invest?
Early on, I built comparison tables. I normalized data across metros and stacked them based on criteria that mattered to me. It helped me identify a market that treated me well. That alone felt like more structure than most long-distance investors use.
But over the last few months, my thinking has shifted.
Instead of asking which markets look good today, I started thinking about future state.
If I look into my crystal ball, what could disrupt a market in a way that benefits a real estate investor? What changes the trajectory of a city? What reshapes demand in a durable way?
Companies are making enormous bets on specific communities. Not just the marquee names, but manufacturers, logistics operators, healthcare systems, energy providers. These aren’t minor moves. They reshape labor markets, infrastructure, and long-term capital flows.
But not everyone works for the Magnificent 7. And not every neighborhood is Class A.
I wasn’t looking for one flashy announcement. I wanted to identify markets that were structurally shifting in ways that improved the odds for investors; where growth could work across neighborhoods and income bands.
That’s what led me to the idea of stacking catalysts. A diverse portfolio of net new corporate investment is stronger than a homogeneous one. A market with advanced manufacturing and healthcare and logistics behaves differently than one reliant on a single employer.
Over time, I’ve reviewed specific signals and their potential impact. I’ve analyzed announcements and asked how they might shape a community. But something was still missing. If you asked me directly, “So where should I invest?” I couldn’t give a clear answer. Everything felt like “it depends.” So the latest incarnation of Cap Rate Signals is an attempt to answer that question in a structured way.
It’s a board:
Now – Markets where catalysts are executing, durability is improving, and the setup appears actionable for investors willing to deploy today.
Next – Markets where conviction is building. The signals are real, but either execution or pricing still needs to clarify.
Later – Markets where something meaningful has been announced, but uncertainty remains high. These may become attractive, but not yet.
Cities will be ranked in one newsletter each week. A second post will explain what changed — why something moved up, down, or stayed put.
You may have a higher risk tolerance. You may prefer early-stage optionality. Or you may want to understand how Columbus, Ohio compares to other markets getting the “hot” label.
The goal isn’t to tell everyone to buy the same place. It’s to make posture visible.
I love this work. I feel like I’ve learned more about how the U.S. economy intersects with real estate investing than I ever expected to. And yes — one motivation is to monetize this. I’ll be introducing a paid tier shortly that offers deeper dives into the highest-ranked markets, with more extensive analysis. Those will likely be monthly.
Thank you for joining me in this evolution. If you find this framework useful, I’d appreciate you sharing it with other investors who might benefit.
And as always, let me know how this is landing.