Having trouble finding investment properties in my area

[Mike Lynch]

Well Folks, we have some great news. We closed on a home last week and close on another home that we have been working on for quite a while on May 23rd.

Not so great news: ... There is a huge Real Estate shortage in my area. Realtors are telling me that they have never seen such a shortage. It is so bad that beat up mobile homes with land are now selling for what nice foreclosures were selling for several years ago. I have been running ads on craigslist for several weeks and have not received one response. The websites and newspapers have nothing. People can't find places to rent. I run a small plumbing company and can't really leave the area to flip homes, due to my business.

Funny thing is, when I had no money, there were tons of homes for sale. Now that we finally have some investment money to play with, it is as dry as a bone around here and home prices are on the rise. There seems to be more investors around here than sellers.

Any ideas?