@Max Householder Thanks for your reply!

Only herself will be living in the new residence and daughter in college probably spends summer and weekends in the residence so it is not a large household.  

To do that, he needed to set up the condominium association which costs $20k ish and a lot of time.

These are the exceptions of rent control:Exemptions to Rent ControlDwelling units expressly exempt from rent control per state or federal law.Dwelling units occupied after February 1, 1995.Single-family homes, condominiums and townhomes.Subdivided interest in a subdivision.Government subsidized dwelling units.

Basic economics, increase demand without similar increase in supply will raise prices.There is a growing strong latent demand, people are delaying household formation or doubling up with other families right now.If rates stay the same, the growing latent demand will begin to force its way into the market as people capitulate and decide they simply have to have a place of their own.In areas with consistent population increases and current housing shortages, stable rates will lead to strong appreciation of existing housing values and increased median home prices.

We are required to maintain a household at home while traveling and on assignment.  

Well, just the potential appreciation that could be seen with the 20,000 new jobs Intel is predicted to bring in with an average salary of $135,000 a year (currently over 2x the median house hold income in Licking County) - https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2022/01/24/mega-intel-c... 

Ultimately, they are an option to help lower income households afford a place to live. 

But -- rant incoming -- as @Erin Spradlin, resident midterm rental expert in our household would probably ask you, why limit your targeting to just one demographic? 

We currently have the below "bad debt" positions:Student loans - 50k (6%)Car loan - 29k (7.09%)2nd lien (current primary home) - 80k (6.08%)401k loan - 30k (9% - paid to yourself)401k loan - 20k (9.25% paid to yourself)Household income of 267k (not including bonus), roughly 100k cash currently and save around 6k a month not including yearly bonus's (33k + 14k = 47k net/yr) + 72k/yr (6k/mo x12) savings = 119k total net savings per year (rough estimate not including current rental)Should we pay off existing debt with the exception of our home loans (not including 2nd lien) or invest in a 250k townhome* that can rent anywhere from $2,000-$2,750/mo?