They honestly know what they are doingThe true way to know if someone is reputable is if they know their guidelines, can call you out if you are being unrealistic, and are quick to kill a deal rather than piece gum together and see if it will pass.

In fact, they  tell me that it is an unrealistic goal.

Switching to a different market will not help, the issue is in your head: you have unrealistic expectations and/or a closing phobia.

I think most of these replies are correct, but it really boils down to one thing: unrealistic expectations of what is possible/likely. 

It's unrealistic.6.

What we do see is that many investors aren't doing enough research to understand the submarkets, leading them having unrealistic expectations. 

only you know (or should know) what the numbers are.Obviously the “cash flow” would go towards paying back the HELOC, so we wouldn’t see any of that income for a couple of years. and if you're just paying down the interest on the HELOC and not the principal, then the HELOC will still be due in its entirety after the draw period ends. make sure you are looking at this accurately.We just always hear about people getting started buying their first property, and even on a lot of the webinars we watch they run the numbers, get a couple hundred dollar cash flow deals and call them good. yes - in a lot of cases this is because (1) the assumptions are unrealistic, (2) the buyer bought when interest rates are a lot lower, (3) the buyer is spreading repairs, management and other costs other an entire portfolio and not a single property, (4) the buyer is managing themselves and doing all of the repairs themselves, or (5) some combination. 

Now the listing agent looks like he can't bring in any serious offers to the seller.Another version of this is the offer comes in verbally, then when it comes time to put it in writing the buyer has expensive or unrealistic contingencies.It only takes a few minutes to write up a contract.A verbal offer is worth the paper its printed on.

I find it somewhat amusing when these programs and coaches act surprised when the occasional client 'breaches' the contract...99% of these programs are pitched with hype and unrealistic expectations, otherwise they wouldn't sell any copies.

Also, established PMs I know don't like dealing with new property owners with no managing experience because they are often very unrealistic in their expectations.