Yes, Silicon Valley has been perpetually 'Hot', due to the high tech jobs and life style in the area. 

All signs point to a red hot market in St Peterburg, Clearwater, and elsewhere in Pinellas County Florida and the Tampa Bay region for 2016 in this Jan 2016 Market Status from Pinellas Realtor Organization.Some highlights:The new year started strong for Pinellas County real estate, with January 2016 stats showing more new listings, fewer days on market, and Median Sale Prices way up from January 2015. 

In 2011 my wife walked into small 1950s cape style house that reeked from 60 years of cigarette smoke and fell in love with the property.

These, as you may know are two different neighborhoods, with different housing styles and different prices - but both of them have the potential to cash flow equally.  

@Art MaydanI was originally pre-approved for about the same amount but ended up closing (TODAY) on a 4 flat (legal 3) in Lincoln Square that hit the FHA loan limit and all because the property had such strong market rent.

Although the economy is strong and rents are rising, property values are inflated and there is a lot of buyer competition = low cap rates.

The equity gains are strong in Portland, though.

That is good to remember, too, @Daniel Sprague, we are up against a few other offers at the moment so we have offered strong in hopes to get into the negotiations.  

@amymartin, medical collections, student loans I may overlook if they have a strong income and also don't have more than two late credit card payments.

If you pay on time during the life of the loan and establish a solid relationship with your bank, they will work with you.Considering current conditions - you were approved by the bank, so it either means the property is a cash flowing property, or your a very strong borrower/guarantor, or both.