What is the best way to research the demand for rental units in certain neighborhoods?

In Utah in general there is a large demand for rentals.

No good deed goes unpunished ... if you give in to her demand, it will come back to bite you.   

The reason for that is that the price point on lower end homes gets pushed up higher due to high demand to be in good school districts.

Also, the time of year impacts the demand for a unit, so I try to not have leases expire in the winter months.

Be prepared to demand shoes off at all times, and I highly recommend walk rugs/area rugs for ALL high traffic areas.YouTube is your friend.If you think you've bought enough sand paper, double it.  

and how much demand there is for flat land in the area!

The problem arises when the banks won't make repairs and FHA demands them.

In this area auction dot com homes often are over priced or higher than market because of strong demand and buyer use their own money.....

Then you have to return to court, then the tenant demands a jury trial, then more time because they say they want to settle, then the eviction order, then its too cold outside so the order is stayed, then when its warm the sheriff is backed up from all the stayed orders so we're still delayed, then finally possession is returned.