But, if I said that, the other agents wouldn't comment and hits to my website would decline.

Especially not with the declining market by me. 

You can tell declined applicants the reason for their denial, but I would recommend not going into too much detail.

Conversely, if the market is at its peak or showing signs of decline, selling now may be more beneficial.

It’s fine to simply decline, even if you just want to avoid a more neighborly relationship with your tenant, but I’d see it as more of a neighborly ask on tenant’s part, not because you’re also the landlord.

declining) and unemployment rates (you don't want an area with high unemployment).

I later found out that when I declined their protege program, they tried to sell me a "pre-protege" program, which is basically wholesaling for $1k.

-Solid neighbors that look out for one another-Not a poorer, declining area -Far enough from cities to be left alone/not have any city grittiness but also no more than 45-60 mins away from hospitals, groceries, etc.

And unlike Cleveland, it isn't declining in population.

At which point you have 30 days to accept and pay or decline.