Now the trend is for folks to live in the city.

2 thumbs up for granite...i think it's more timeless than some trendy concrete, even though the concrete sounds neat...i just had granite installed in a flip of mine for 1,150 including, delivery, installation, sink and the cutout...i think it's worth it for the 'wow' factor...there really are some deals out there right now...and this wasn't the ugly, cheap uba tuba color either...i hate uba tuba lol...also some granite guys, like mine, offer 0% financing for 6 or 12 months, so if it's a flip, you can pay it off when you sell the house

Based on the additional homes we have seen recently become short-term rentals in our area, we do not believe this trend is going to stop.”"

Today we see a spread well over 100% between low cost and high cost markets.This trend is what Elizabeth Warren focused on most in her book: The Two-Income Trap. 

It's trendy and easy to follow... and sit on the sidelines.

IMO, if you focus your business on investing in properties that have staying power, you'll do just fine this year: i.e. aren't overly trendy in the sense that it would require regular updates or paint jobs, market to a specific core audience that your neighborhood hosts often [i.e. families, spring breakers, wedding guests, business trips, etc.] has the right amenities for the location, has good photos/descriptions, doesn't "surprise" guests when they arrive, and has a reliable hosting with high-quality communication.

A trend I have been seeing for years. 

Sure, maybe the comps support it, and you did end up eventually finding a tenant (after dropping the price and sitting longer on the market), but this trend is only going to continue and get worse, especially in these lower income areas.  

My recent actions in this regard - I took some money off the table selling a couple of my properties recently and am on hold buying.Buyer beware - "The trend is your friend except at the end where it bends."

like a box of Ramen noodles. or 2 sneakers bars.