Final answer:
The situation described is best described by the economic characteristic of scarcity, which refers to a situation where the quantity of a resource is limited compared to its demand.
Step-by-step explanation:
The situation described, where there is a limited multi-family zoning in an area, is best described by the economic characteristic of scarcity.
Scarcity refers to a situation where the quantity of a resource is limited compared to its demand.
In this case, the limited multi-family zoning means that there are only a limited number of apartment buildings available in the area, creating a scarcity of such properties.