I feel we need something to counteract that.

You don't have the downside risk of the neighborhood decaying further.

Rent control doesn't only privilege tenants (who get to use government to counteract market forces).  

It crippled sections of the city & left properties empty & decaying.

This is the reason for using a buyers realtor to work on your side to counteract the sellers realtor.

Ways you can counteract some of that disadvantage: higher earnest money payment, a quick close strategy already configured with your lender, willingness to accept as-is and build required repairs/renovations into the purchase price, coming in above asking price if you are confident it will appraise, or using the process to wear down the seller (i.e. once it doesn't appraise, the seller either starts over with someone else or accepts the new price). 

I am a buy and hold investor, i have done 2 flips, one i did because i knew i could get a good return ( 3 months - 50K profit) the other i did because i liked the house and didn't want to see it decay ( total rehab and small addition) made $1200 after all costs. i was ok with that because i saved a house from ruin, and i got my money back i put into it.

Second, is customizations which are to only be applied to counteract booking trends (like no last-minute reservations).Here it is:1) Find your Booking Lead Time (BLT)2) Create your occupancy targets based on #1.

More and more people will forever move into the space, and returns will forever decay.

dont forget Two half decayed cats