You still have the same economic conditions. 

Martin, my background is in economics so I do have some thoughts on your comments about economic cycles and this REI model.

Also, for economic purposes, by placing home in LLC (a business), children will be elgible for more college financial aid since the business assets for a closely held company with few employees are exempt/not counted under federal financial aid laws but are counted when it is our personal name.  

Not stock market, not economic market.  

Gentrifying areas can give you amazing capital growth, however they are also more prone to downturns during bad economic times. 

I remember Larry Kudlow idiotically going on and on about the "Goldilocks Economy" despite clear indications things were going wrong.The economic cycle is long.

Looking to stimulate some conversation, in hopes that we all can learn something.

My dream is to create a real estate company serving the housing needs of middle income population, but like everything in life, it is best to start with baby steps.I like the NYC metropolitan area because of its diversity, potential for growth and the fact that it behaves somewhat independently of the national economic trends.  

Not a statistician-- but unless you are having an economic downturn (or all work at the same place and it went under)--collusion sounds likely as the odds are against all tenants suddenly having a financial exigency at the exact same time.Word may have spread that nothing serious happened with late rent (no late fee?

Economic considerations alone do not constitute practical difficulties.