I call them fireflies, though I'm not sure when I started doing that as I distinctly remember calling them lightning bugs in my youth.I call them vacation properties or short-term rentals.

So its not that issue for me.. its simply what I experienced and we probably were not good enough at it (landlording) even though we might have thought we were... bad tenants simply come in every flavor of the rainbow..

We rehab properties(quite the difference from rentals, same taste, different flavor).

It may be helpful to think about Asbury Park as a square with 4 distinct sections.

There are many different flavors of real estate investing every time you meet someone new you'll discover a new approach to it.

Also, I encountered the distinction between SFRs and apartments/condos and I am glad you mentioned that they impact the markets differently. 

@Mike Oliveira In Ontario, you have to break it down into two distinct groups to look at the economics:1) GTAAs per the Ontario Population Projections Update, 2015-2041:"The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is projected to be the fastest growing region of the province, with its population increasing by over 2.8 million, or 42.9 per cent, to reach almost 9.5 million by 2041.

@Eric SchaferYour employer 401k is likely locked up in that plan until you leave the company.Self-Directed retirement plans come in several flavors.  

The Keys are too, more 3rd world in flavor. 

As in most areas, there are two distinct markets the flippers and the buy and holds.