As anyone who's been to New England knows, Yankees see themselves as an independent-thinking bunch. After all, New Hampshire's state motto is "live free or die." At the same time, though, New England's multifamily markets do share a few characteristics. Infill is popular, and so are redevelopment opportunities and value-added deals. The hot spots? Connecticut's urban markets, such as Stamford and Hartford, and Boston, of course. But improving demographics and investor interest also make sleepers such as Portland, Maine, and Providence, R.I., worth watching in the year ahead.