Unfortunately there is no way to predict how they will react towards anything you propose, including cash for keys. 

If you invest for cash flow and the rent is stable, which it should be, you will still be ok if there is a market correction.I don't think waiting out markets is the best strategy, and I have yet to meet the person that can predict them. 

Massachusetts has lots of traffic and the patterns are predictable but you need to know them.

Even with the lowball offers, I'm only at a 8-10% COC prediction with the typical reserves BP preaches about. 

@Tim Johnson All the major banks are predicting that rates will be significantly lower over the coming year.

The experts do a poor job of predicting recessions, but are for the most part not predicting a recession.  

You are essentially trying to predict what rate of return investors would expect in the future and would be willing to pay for.How to you make that assumption?

Unless you have previous experience and contractors who already love you things are going to take more time and money than you predict.

One of the few people I trust to make predictions. 

But whether that remains the case in the long term is hard to predict.