This softening of rents may be a market shift, but looking down the road a year or two those may be the disgruntled landlords that you get to buy out, because they can't make a profit...

Right now they have a pest service, water softener service, etc etc.

May have to stop making that payment to soften them up.  

Come 2016, demand will likely soften, given a huge number of new apartment projects that are to be delivered in the next few years.For investors interested in the multifamily space this means that there should be more emphasis where multifamily acquisitions/development should be taking place, with a focus on a more desirable neighborhoods, such as Federal Hill, Fells Point, Upper Fells Point, etc., areas that are likely to be more resilient to rent reductions once the city will become more saturated with apartments in the market.As far as heated cap rates go, I agree, they've fallen A LOT in the last 18 months alone, so it makes it that much more important to be prudent in your underwriting.

But if it's someone with whom you worked with in the past or hope to in the future, then letting them know and building a relationship is a must.There is such a thing as "good will equity" and contractors, typically, have a running log in their head of where people stand.To help soften the blow, I give them a head's up on other work coming down the pipeline and let them know I want them involved, if it's a job they'd like to have.

The furnace didn't pass inspection so I had that and a water softener installed.  

Wholesale prices definitely softened a little,we are turning more deals down now that supply is up.Tenant demand strong in good areas like yours @Sam H. 

For example, I needed a water softener installed and it just so happened my tenant had previously worked for a company doing exactly that. 

We're starting to see a little softening of the SFR in some of the areas that were the hottest last summer, but softening just means that most of the properties are no longer going for above asking.  

Maybe 20% of the units at a time to soften the landing of anybody leaving.