At the end of the day, I don't know that you can ever completely avoid it from happening, but you can take actions to reduce the occurence.The vacancy period between tenants is almost always the most expensive part of the rental cycle.

Everything goes through cycles.

In other words there were a lot of similar properties available.I do want to warn that San Diego properties historically have always appreciated in the long term and the rent typically appreciates similarly but in the short term there are down cycles some of which last for quite a few years. 

Ideally, I'll focus more on investments during a down cycle.

@Jerryll Noorden I think things go in cycles.

That doesn’t mean we won’t see a cycle in the RE/stock/capital markets but most of us are just trying to insulate ourselves from how that cycle will impact us and some are trying to be prepared to take advantage of the next down cycle.

I can see it taking a full turnover cycle to get everyone on board if you don't nag them a bit.

The only thing one needs to be careful about is if property prices take a hit and you are at the end of your mortgage cycle and the bank decides to not refi the loan or only refi at the new lower value.

Lending standards have been tighter this cycle on the whole compared to the last.

For over 20 years in 3 different down cycles I've experienced, consumers start buying again when the News Media changes their messaging.