As others have responded, real estate benefits from healthier margins than other investment or business models.

Assuming no complete structural issues (environment concerns, heavy crime, no jobs whatsoever), you're probably in a decent market for investment.

Whether the demand is met or not I can't say.My experience is that executives on short-term stays are staying at places like the Buffalo Club, or they've got a corporate-owned loft or condo on the waterfront, etc.Take this with a large grain of salt, as this is just what I've observed working in a corporate environment downtown and keeping my ears open :)

And I suppose 70% would work too in the current environment :-)

Being in a humid environment, mold is at the forefront of your mind and I'd want to know my family was safe if I were buying a flooded home. 

By purchasing a home and completing a rehab can provide a better environment than the apartment options they may have and still make a nice return. 

The Great Depression was a deflationary environment and gold went up.

Cheaper, easier, faster, cleaner (carpet is NASTY), and better for the environment.

The next environment will have it's own twists, but will still offer opportunity.

Of course, in a depreciating environment, that leverage would work against you.