If that cannot be arranged then certainly not for the seller or the sellers attorney holding it.In those cases we have the title company hold the earnest money or a neutral third party attorneys office for escrow.You have to make sure the neutral third party is truly neutral meaning the sellers, sellers attorney etc. has no ownership interest in the title company holding the EM.

Myself, I pay a property manager and they are cost-neutral,  because Im a sucker for a sob story and loose a bunch of money to that. 

You want to avoid shipping from outside of Hawaii to avoid missing pieces.Go light in color, neutral, clean 

Obviously, net neutral to population growth over the long haul.

I am doing my best to stay neutral, not get excited and not get closed off either.

I'd stick with a solid surface like cheap granite or go with a neutral laminate depending on your price point and market comps.  

Assuming that the rental you inherited is cash-flowing now, you might want to analyze first how it will do under various leveraged scenarios: start with a $100K loan at prevailing rates, $150K, etc. until you find the point at which the property will approach being cash neutral. 

I would recommend actual offers not neutral cards if that's what you're doing.

If it were me (and I am making a *lot* of assumptions about you, here) I would put down the minimum I could to get to cash flow neutral with renters. 

Neutral tones of light grey, beige, and if you have to, white are all easy to pair with anyone's furniture and decor, so they can more easily imagine themselves living in the property and don't have to factor in a whole new coat of paint either.For flooring and other finishes, look at what is selling in your market right now.