Many people leaving the city of Cleveland are not leaving the market/region.

Better yet, try to get your mortgage through a small regional bank or credit union in the area you are trying to invest in.  

If so what time of the year does that region usually start signing leases?

I know people are doing well In this region so why so quiet?

I'm sure you've sold plenty of condos to these folks.What's left over, such as the courthouse auctions, usually goes to folks with established businesses - professional contractors and long-time investors with rehab crews in place that can turn your $25k flip into a $15k flip.All of those rule-of-thumb equations you read everywhere are regional. 

For the few years I've been on BP I generally consider @Mark Gallagher to be the SME on this region and is the first reference I make for anyone looking into the area.

I never been south of San Antonio but I read and heard that there is lot of growth in that area...Here is projection of population ... and looks like 50-100% growth expected in that region...

They are a regional bank in Indy and other parts of the midwest I believe, but I'm not sure about Michigan.

How many properties does each regional office manage?

It can be a great option, or it could be a terrible option - running your numbers as Michele mentions above will help you choose the right path.Many of us have worked with HML's, and as selfish as it is - I don't give out my best guys because they are relatively small and they might not have enough in their coffers for my next deal if they get too busy with other investors.Also many lenders work only with specific types of deals in specific geographic regions.