There's definitely a shortage of reliable contractors up here!

Or, if you own the seller less than they owe on the underlying loan, they would have to come up with the shortage.

We have such a shortage of long term rentals that I could rent 100 if they existed to buy them.

^how true; SD's are meant for repairs, damages & rent shortages, not a 'line of credit'caveat emptor Sec 8 inspections likely to find the gas (ie, stove) 'doesn't work' and stop payment of rent disbursements  if tenant fails to clarify that it was shut off (if it ever were to be) due to nonpayment. by the way OP, do you provide your tenant with annual sec dep interest credit, or are you exempt?

There may be other reasons to invest in those markets (GDP growth, job growth, positive net in migration, diversified economy, shortage of rental properties), but you should definitely do your research first.

And right now there is a shortage of good contractors and good subcontractors who will be on the low end of the pricing scale.I've kind of moved away from flips (even though I have been flipping for 12 years now) and it is so much easier and profitable now with the urban townhome developments.Most of the flippers that I see around me are losing money.

There will never be a shortage of students or staff who would like to live near the university.For what it's worth.  

With a nearby student population, within walking distance of one college and cycling distance of another college, and a shortage of off campus student housing, I'm hoping that I won't have trouble getting tenants with a no pets policy.

So far if they have not had enough my lenders have prorated the shortage into the next years payment. 

The CSJ is having a housing shortage.