I checked into it, and the owner would ask for a ridiculous price, wait a few months, got no offers, no one met his price, so he says "OK, I'll close up now and do it again next year".My wife was a real estate agent in that area, and she tells me there are stubborn owners that has a certain price in their head, gets insulted if they don't get it, wastes everyone's time, and then takes it off the market.

I looked at the company's website and it's all about "commitment to honesty and integrity," so perhaps we're dealing with a stubborn real estate agent unwilling to go back to his client to discuss different terms.  

I'm just trying to look out for him even though he can be stubborn sometimes. 

I made one of the most stubborn decision as most people who know me well said & bold as I think I am, I went ahead to buy my first home in Wilmington DE & offer short term rental for people like me, onsiter.

Have you seen DC or tenants get stubborn with that?

A stubbornness of not wanting to pay a (usually well deserved) commission? 

I won't stubbornly hold a property if a good opportunity to sell comes along, but I'd prefer to keep it and let the returns roll in over time.Though I don't have much capital to start out with, I do have several connections with people who have confidence in my ability to learn well and execute a successful investment.

You've got the interest, creativity and stubbornness parts down.

Odds are they are mispriced and there might be a stubborn owner.  

Grease can be stubborn :)Another option is to have them stay at their current house and use the HELOC to buy a few properties.