If CAP rate is = 9.6% you are neutral.  

I have almost no experience/knowledge on flips/203k (would owner-occupy at least a year) and almost all single-unit properties in the city with appreciation potential I could afford are condos.I will admit that I've focused almost exclusively on DC, but it seems that 2-4 unit properties are exceedingly rare elsewhere.Do I need to shift my expectations (near neutral cashflow multi-unit) and perhaps accept just getting a cheaper single-unit outside the city?

Canada is considered a great place for retirement and a neutral political safe haven.

So if the seller is getting proceeds from the sale then those will be held in a neutral escrow account and given to the buyer upon default of the seller.We do this in commercial and it keeps the sellers honest.

I'm sure a (neutral) lawyer can put together an agreement and likely has a litany of what-if questions for all parties to consider.

Frank Ruopoli Look on BP, spend 20 minutes on Google, read articles from (theoretically) neutral outfits like this:http//www.cleveland.com/consumeraffairs/index.ssf/2012/08/a_flurry_of_alerts_about_trave.htmlPersonally, I think it's odd hearing about these programs on radio ads during radio shows put on my "professional gamblers" that tell you that they "have a system".

Now, the agent should be completely unbiased and neutral and allow the sellers to determine the offer.

Because they are zero appreciating markets, the market value of the RE is the same after 50 years of ownership as when purchased (when adjusted for inflation).Now assume you purchase a cash neutral San Diego RE with average rent ($2700 according to Zillow). 

So while inventory has climbed to 4.4 months, it is still well below the 6 month threshold for what is considered a balanced or neutral market.

For my feedback on the process, it has been neutral.