For me personally, I have found that properties I purchase here as initial cashflow negative or neutral have much higher total returns than those in the cashflow markets. 

First, shortly before move in, she demanded that we repaint the freshly painted unit, from one neutral shade to another neutral shade. 

If you made your current home a LTR then they could give you 75% of the rent to offset the expenses which may help, or at least neutralize the hit to the DTI. 

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has made 2016 purchases for buy and hold that are either neutral or in positive cash flow, recognizing that CapEx expenses could be lurking in the shadows to change that picture.Having landed in Denver (finally) last week and living, temporarily, in my first purchase (condo in Arvada) to make some improvements before renting/selling -- I'm seeing that rental at a stretch would be .07% (maybe $1500 rent for a $213,000 purchase).

It is assumed you price to market with property in good condition or you have to discount deeply from the comparables.Scrub and paint everything neutral.

Yes, anything from fourplex to apartment and also broken down in pessimistic, neutral and optimistic scenario's.Are there any lists out there that give a realistic estimated breakdown of costs?

Most of the coastal investments in Florida will struggle to be cashflow neutral even with large down payments.

When rehabbing, keep things neutral and don't get weird ideas and try to implement funky project ideas- these slow you down, decrease the breadth of appeal to wider buyer pool.  

But it is tax neutral and you will continue to pay US taxes if you are a US person.

I have never had to do more than that to neutralize the odor.