My greatest challenge is that I'm just not good with all the technology, including REI Blackbook, but I'm working on overcoming that.

Owner is doing financials themselves or has a low-end property manager that doesn’t embrace technology.

Quick summary: it's 2018, with all this technology, investing OOS is as easy as investing in your backyard.

If I have small number of properties, I would self manage and make use of ever increasing technologies to streamline my job.

And having worked at a bank (and a husband in technology security), yeah--I don't think people really realize how often they are compromising themselves in the course of normal business.  

I think another dip is coming here and maybe staying - depending on technology - in the next 5-10 yrs. 

It's the age of technology so anyone not using it is missing the boat.

Some of it is because of the technology we have now that wasnt even available 3 years ago.

And many of these firms are hiring talent of all ages, but in the area of robotics, sciences and other technology fields, a lot of young urban professionals are coming from CMU and need places to live close to these businesses.

Fed can decide to raise the prime rate, govt can decide to change lending standards, business investment in building materials/methods/technology can lower the cost to build, tariffs can raise them, a successful business owner could choose to locate in your town, taxes can change, laws can change, etc...