Now I buy defensively and have 2 to 3 pivots or exit strategies ready for market shifts.

In this environment, you're only defense against a bad tenant is good paperwork and meeting timelines for delivery.

I love the ignorance to technology defense.

It's a bummer too about KW, I really liked their referral system in KW Command as my goal is to have 95% of the business model be referral, oh well.In EXPs defense the agents I spoke with actually supported my idea and even gave me tips on how to market and advertise.

Electrical/Systems Engineer here working in the aerospace/defense industry.

The broker got super defensive and upset, telling him it was against professional courtesy to talk to tenants before a PSA had been signed.Now BP family, let me know what your thoughts are on this... was this wrong or is the broker right?

This brings us to another psychological defense mechanism, which is avoidance. 

Thankfully I'm in a better defensive financial state now.

Apartments are different because the concentration of tenants increases the risks of ownership, there is a difference between someone who trips over a skateboard left on a step by a neighbor kid than by one left by your kid on the front porch.Insurance takes care of most risks, but not all, the risks not covered stem from your management and knowledge, which is the very best defense. 

I asked her about it, and she got defensive and said she never lies.