My property is in the same county/city as trendy area.

I said go for cash buyers, not retail buyers (who generally go FHA now).What happened in the past year is not indicative of what will happen in the coming year.Of course, there are some lenders who might still play ball, but the trend is fewer and fewer and it isn't always easy to steer your retail buyer to your lender of choice.IMO, you will spend too much time and effort searching for that elusive retail buyer and lender who will do these flips.

I purchase and stage cheaper, but trendy furniture (IKEA, whole house for $500-the renter gets to keep it and I get to channel my inner interior designer).

Since Washington DC area is one of few areas with moving up trend, I will pay close attention to this neighbor and see if the house can be sold smoothly.

This trend is borderline terrorism and has to stop immediately.

However the trend is up.

I kind of like where the trend is going :D

I hope to go drive around some nice/trendy neighborhoods in some big cities nearby like Seattle or Portland and take tons of pictures to get ideas.

The macro-trend is in your favor.

You obviously have seen that fix and flips in Arizona are a popular trend. I