Start comparing the rent to value rations and make sure a property in that area will even cash flow. 

Keep in mind most cities you cant touch these folks... maybe the pendulum is swinging back to logic and protecting the innocent landowners. yea also this country needs more logic/rationality and military/police presence more.

If you do, you are missing out on most of the advantages, and rationalizing bad deals into good ones based on "%'s" instead of dollars. 

It was as my first investment deal, so I did all kinds of mental gymnastics and rationalization to help it make sense at the time. 

Can't rationalize 4.5% cap rates borrowing at 6-7% interest rates.

Whether it's due to personal ties or their upbringing, emotions can get in the way of rational thought and analysis.

I'm trying to rationalize making a decision between condo'ing it and holding, and here's where I ended up with it.

Making decisions based on bad interpretation or rationalization is how people end up in legal trouble.

You only buy deals that work,...without rationalizing them. 

It's not an emotional thing, it's a rational decision based on returns.