That can push the price artificially high and create problems with the appraisal. 

The biggest positive is the regulation that will continue to artificially keep supply low keeping prices high.

IPN is to opposite. 3) IPN vetting process was much longer and took a few weeks. 4) IPN has monthly and weekly limits on accepted payment amounts (not sure if this is artificial 'marketing' or not) but you can request increases after you set up the IPN service. 5) In the typical, non-failed funding case, IPN funding is much quicker.

Of course that does not apply to law/medicine/engineering and a few select others.... 

If you can't hold on for long, then you probably have no other realistic option than sell and take your medicine, which is going to be pretty painful - you're going to have to recapture all that depreciation which means you'll have a hell of a tax bill at the end of all of this, outside of what you're losing. 

It artificially inflated whatever stats the news organization used to determine their list.

We have artificially inflated prices, in most of the areas with cash sales to out-of-state folks, or local cash buyers( who just don't know any better).

This is why they are keeping rates artificially low even in the face of INFLATION.

It would be great to have other people who are in a similar situation as me get connected in order to discuss any pros and cons to investing in real estate while in medical school/residency while educating those who are passionate about medicine and establishing financial freedom prior to becoming an attending physician. 

Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Grand Prairie are all decent sized and have their upside.