I know there will be a shortage of contractors in the months, maybe even years, to come.Thanks,Beth and Brett

Do you have assets you could use to make up the shortage? 

There is a huge shortage of inventory and even when people try to low ball new listings and then "walk" because the seller won't come down I end up hearing their cries months later that they can't find anything better than the deal they were trying to squeeze a couple K out of, and the fact that the current deals are even worse...  

However, I think by supplementing the shortage of mailers with driving for dollars and bandit signs along with my online presence and a few other free ideas I have, I think I can come up with 1 deal. 

There is no shortage of people telling the virtues of these  cities, but I am having trouble understanding how to independently research an area to see if it has a good long term rental outlook other than just accepting what others are saying.  

Also, it doesn't seem like you've done a lot of reading in the forums, because there is a deal shortage in DFW.

I live in Bend and home prices seem high, but there is a rental shortage and landlords are able to get top dollar for their units.

That would really ding your credit, and, if you have assets, the lender would come after you for the shortage.You could sell, but you would have to bring money to the table to make up the shortage.

Especially if they have other assets.Can you come up with the shortage elsewhere?

I have seen labor shortages and construction overregulation that I never since since starting flipping in 2004.