However, with a more sophisticated seller, you're more likely to see these kinds of deals succeed.So, I guess that obstacles count as a con - it may be better to avoid all the hassle by just using regular channels.A pro I can think of is being able to negotiate your own terms.

@Matt K. if tenants are sophisticated and motivated enough to link you to related entities, then we've got much bigger problems lol

Even sophisticated folks rely, at best, on databases like CoStar and REIS which hardly provide any big data analytics.

What I expect is to further my business, be introduced to interesting people/opportunities (doesn't matter if I don't make any money) and to enhance my perceptive.

How do you manage the perception a market has on your house flipping business?

So, you need to work on your perception.

There is also a big revitalization project in the Portland area, but I think there is a perception of that part of town and it's relative distance to the other areas already mentioned that make it a hard sell.

Interest and vacancy rates continue to remain low (for now) and the common perception seems to be that virtually anyone with some spare cash (or a self directed IRA) can fix, flip, reposition, rehab, swap, wholesale, lease to purchase, buy/hold, etc.

Cozy wasn't quite as sophisticated, but did the trick for the last year.

If you paid $10k for the down payment and closing costs of the investment, then your very first cash flow is NEGATIVE $10k.I think because there are so many investors that have not learned the sophistication of the calculations, they become emotionally against a NEGATIVE cash flow even though the very FIRST cash flow is NEGATIVE.That's because they really only understand a definition of Cash Flow which does not actually involve the flow of cash!