Truth be told I expect it to go up, don't care why and do not expect free giveaways.

The easy and preferred answer is to tell the truth.The more difficult answer comes from figuring out if you lose more by telling the truth or by lying.

Nothing was further from the truth -- in reality, it's costing me $1K a month to own it, and I don't have any option to buy it.The expensive lesson I have learned is to ALWAYS buy in a great market.

It seems that it would not be hard to figure out who it telling the truth. 

While many new or less knowledgeable investors see syndication as a holy grail, the truth is that it may or may not fit your plan, it may or may not be achievable for you depending on your knowledge, skills, track record, experience, and ALWAYS carries a risk of having to defend lawsuits when investors are unhappy with results.  

Designed to convey a message more than contain literal truth.

Everyone's situation is different, and the truth is, it depends.If you're looking at more than 4-unit properties, you will most likely have to have a legal entity to get financing (LLC, corporation, etc.).

I kind of giggled truth be told), liens and money to the seller make sense.

I dunno...how about truth in estimates?

Once you are involved and in the thick of it, the truth will show itself.