It is our hope no one in Blue Metrix is a victim of such an aggressive business tactic while part of their management team faces such a difficult health challenge.

The article is based on # of sales, not price increase or decrease.

It sounds like you have a lot of experience in this space, and I'm always interested in learning more.I think one takeaway is that this is a difficult asset class to own and operate, and just like @Jay Hinrichs mentioned, having a great team is essential!

Putting that amount into it will only increase the loss.

It's difficult to see how a tenant will be after screened and signing a lease.

It’s doable, just more difficult, time consuming, with a lot more “contacts” needed for each “sale”. 

Quote from @Paul Lucenti: Creative methods tend to increase risk.

Strong rental demand: With major employers like the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, along with a growing arts and culture scene, Cleveland attracts a steady stream of renters.Revitalization efforts: Many areas of Cleveland are experiencing significant revitalization, which can lead to increased property values and appreciation potential.I can't comment on the Detroit market specifically, I have never been and have never done any research on it!

You could explore a private note sale but without hard collateral it could be difficult and would come with a discounted buy out.

I would be cautious buying in the saturated areas because there are so many similarly sized properties that price is becoming increasingly the deciding factor.