A good source for this type of information are the commercial real estate companies, Marcus & Miilichap, they will have research data showing economic forecasts for any area you may have an interest in.

Can anyone refer a reputable and economical roofing contractor in Detroit?   

Shiller, a Yale University Economics Professor, shows how housing prices have changed over time using an arbitrary starting point of 100 adjusting for inflation.

I also know that anything under 9% economic loss (physical vacancy, loss to lease, bad debt, concessions, non rev units, etc) in my market isn't sustainable.

While we may lose significant equity, owning cheap housing during a crisis seems like a decent train of thought.

But the insurance and taxes and all other burdens and benefits of ownership must absolutely be retained by the EAT.There needs to be a lease to provide an economic incentive for the EAT and more importantly to provide an avenue for the EAT to have the mortgage to make the mortgage payments.. 

prices are good, values are strong, taxes low, also when economic swings hit the rest of country we generally see little affects.don't tell anyone haha I think we have a fairly well kept secret!! 

Plus, at those rents, you're actually losing money on the homes when you factor in R&M, taxes and insurance (after you subtract out the lot rent).2) Renovate and sell off the two vacant homes for whatever you can get, focusing on the $300 lot rent.3) You now have the following economics: 13 lots x $300 x 12 x .6 = $28,080 NOI.4) Your payment is roughly $2,000 per month P&I, as far as I can figure.

Vacancy is probably too low. 8-10% is more normal in PA once you include economic vacancy. 

For a long time the cities' main economic drivers were - medicine and education.