Austin is a great place to invest, however, everything depends on the property characteristics and condition, price and neighborhood.

What are the characteristics of a successful broker you have done business with that I can learn?

You should compare cap rates across similar property types with similar characteristics.

As the old adage goes, location is everything and certain characteristics around where a property is located can pay big dividends.For one, a neighborhood within a strong school district is often a good indicator of high resale potential.

Did I overlook any important characteristics?

However, I do not have any interest in doing syndications and I can't afford that myself so I'd likely pass due to lack of liquidity not due to the characteristics of a retirement home. 

First, I find it interesting that you say they are "similar tenants" and then you list personal characteristics that have nothing to do with their qualifications as a renter.Something differentiates them and makes one better than the other two.

I am probably way off about this but it seems that they look for particular characteristics.

I don't know market specifics about the York market but it obviously adjoins the Harrisburg Metro area and shares some investing characteristics.  

However, I see value in his characteristics (trustworthy, meticulous, dependable, self-sufficient) and would like to continue working with him.