I guess it's always a risk when you put your own flavor on something, and it's difficult to stay up on trends and have a current look that a majority of people are going to like. 

It was a CBD, transit oriented development deal, the flavor of the month for institutional owners, so therefore the best course for our group was to package it with the impending new entitlements and sell it to a big player. 

I'm also an engineer and have dealt with the subtle disrespect that people show.

Read all the highly recommended  books, bought the Carlton Sheets, attended a rich dad seminar (surprisingly no Kiyosaki), a couple of flavor of the year gurus, joined a local REIA for two years, Listened to podcast on BP.

It depends on the condition of the house... we buy cash only, so it's houses that won't pass inspection, and normally offer 30-40% off MLS, and they work with us.. although we have gotten a subtle FU before.    

Getting back to returns Pasadena vs turnkeys...Do yourself an investor flavor and compare these numbers 5 years (60 months) vs one month as most these tk sellers try to BS you. 

Wayne Snell Patrick Desjardins I totally agree on shoulder looking and "subtle" reminders.

Since it generally works like an annuity (there are several "flavors" some aren't like annuities) it has to be setup so it doesn't "run out" with less than 10% to the charity or else all the benefits are retroactively lost. 

My hero on this Is @Steve Vaughan  how to boot strap then kick off the boots by the fireplace Entrapranuers come in many flavors.. and like with anything... fall out is huge the ones that make it can be the most successful of all monetarily.

.- Non-verbal/Subtle cues - This is very important.