It is a process that has been going on for decades and had dramatically increased in speed and intensity in the past few months (under the guise of a crisis).

What I am about to say probably could be an entirely new thread.but I find it interesting that in the three years since i first wrote this post.not only has the sentiment on this thread changed dramatically  (can we say 180 degrees)but I am finding other landlords in my neighborhoods are also stepping it up.where I once had the nicest apartment in my class for about two years.I am now facing stiff competition.  

They ALL have a dramatic super tragedy to tell before they stepped up and became successful.Kroll hated grasThe dude from F2F was cocky and lost it allthe list goes on.True or not, here is what I took away from all this.Assume you are intelligent.. and you have a good enough grasp on your conscious mind yeah?

DC makes the same point -- Baltimore is dramatically undervalued for all the reasons discussed in this thread.  

It's also so dramatic, I can't get enough.

That is hard to find in this particular market in many markets that have appreciated dramatically.  

The state has budget  problems and of course everyone knows the price of oil has dropped dramatically.

Unit mix can also have dramatic effects on per unit calculations as well as type of management required.  5' x 5' units will get more per square foot but will turnover much more frequently than a 10' x 40' unit will and will therefore require more "management.As for financing,  I think you will find it similar to MF except that up until recently (say 5-10 years ago) it was harde to find lenders with experience in the sector.  

They are consumers just like everyone else and some of that money MAY go back into the business or it may go to other areas such as savings, investing, or buying other things not related to business.The facts are that “the swamp” (as you refer to it) and the wealth of the wealthiest in the US has been fueled dramatically by the tax cuts of the first attempts at trickle down economics because those would be tax dollars were retained, not invested.

Personally (unless something changes dramatically).