And there aren't enough to go around (a deficit of some 3 million units by one economist's count).I completely agree with you that multi-family new construction may be a big opportunity for the foreseeable future, and we may gradually see the detached single family home lose some footing as the icon of the American dream.I never said "build more single family homes" (though admittedly that may have been the gist of one of the articles I referenced).

Any recommendations appreciated - I'm not asking for books about investing advice - I'm more looking for something along the lines of a historian or economist writing a book about the history of the multi-family industry.

I'm no economist so no predictions here, just observations.

Some economists estimate we are still some five years of home building behind the demand.So, at this point, supply and demand are way out of balance.

The Austrian school economists, (Americans named for their Austrian heritage, not because of any government/economic policies of Austria), explain booms and busts quite clearly.

However there are many markets in global cities where home ownership is not looked at like a right, many in New York or Hong Kong accept that the prices and the market may lead them to be renters.Only time will tell what the Vancouver market will do as it seems to continue to baffle even the smartest economists. 

I'm certainly no economist, however one may reasonably conclude the following:1.

I've been interviewing several economists and institutional real estate investors since the election in an effort to understand the rather significant impact a Trump administration will have on real estate and the economy, in general.

I had 2 properties in Addington, sold one after the first EQ and started in AKL, never looked back.Rents in chch are declining and prices too in some places. there is now over supply of houses.I'm aiming to sell my last house there next year and shift the equity to the US.There are many economists in the US talking abut another crises coming within the next 1-3 years so this will effect NZ and the US housing market, time to buy by buy!

(And they're probably not an economist either haha)