Some economists estimate that we are 5+ million housing units behind the demand.This housing shortage continues to drive rents ever higher, yet home values remain suppressed.

I am not quite sure why the moderator keeps suppressing the thread - is it against the rules to ask for advice?

Works like a charm for us and this is one of our main ways that we find great deals and it is non-threatening and leaves the ball in their court to call you... and everyone that calls you is a warm lead instead of you chasing possible leads all day long.Works great for us and I hope it works great for you to.Cheers!

It's a struggle with the old timers that we need to do something to bring new life and blood into this city while maintaining it's small town feel and charm.

yes so third response is the charm.

With that being said, as a California boy, I noticed some things that these cities have in common, it's a city of charm and micro neighborhoods, almost as if they drew an invisible line to separate the good and bad areas (around Cleveland heights, Lakewood border etc). 

It had a barn on it so my wife thought it was charming.

Although, isn't the vacancy always suppressed by whatever time the owner personally has blocked off on their calendar?

It had a lot of charm, but it also had almost everything we wanted in our first home.

We made a conscious effort to make the home feel reasonably modern, but keep some of the historic charm, which is appropriate for this neighborhood.