I think inventory of their perspective markets - supply and demand is what everyone should be looking to forecast where their housing market is moving.

I can supply seller leads and the buyer, they get the seller under contract and be the boots on the ground. 

The addition of the PE inventory into the for-sale marketplace wouldn't even be a drop in the bucket in bridging the gap between housing demand and the shortage of supply in a climate where builders aren't adding to the inventory in substantial numbers.If you are wondering when funds will start selling in the Bay Area, I can relate some first-hand experience...l've started selling mine.  

That means they can get smoking hot deals and face little competition.

I've had to hold on to evicted tenants cigarette smoke-filled crap before so I feel where you're coming from @Benjamin Mueller.  

So we 'helped' move all his belongings to the storage area we have on-site & then gutted the horrible 70's era, heavily 'smoked in' unit to the studs.

It completely depends on location (which state and which university) proximity to university, cost of on campus housing and supply vs demand etc.

You can ask a realtor to send you data on the supply of homes.

The Portland market is smoking hot right now.  

Anyway, I wanted to know if I could use a partner who would live in the property to qualify for an FHA loan, and then I would supply the down payment of 3%.