To me it looks like buyers are not making rational decisions. 

I just started accumulating properties in Western PA because of cash flow vs purchase ration is much better.

It just upsets me how there would be people like this out there who try to wipe out "competitors" instead of calling me and asking me to partner up since I DID have a couple leads and would be a rational thing to do but i dont care cause im very passionate in the rewards that Real Estate can bring me or in my future but i know theres another way.

After the property sits a while with few leads, they try to rationalize why the first person that comes through the door will be a great tenant.

Each bank questions my debt to income ration stating they do not feel comfortable with what I make yearly.

The reason I am concerned about loan maturity is more psychological than rational. 30 years term is a worst case scenario and I don't want to get stuck in it even hypothetically.I had a 30 years mortgage which I paid off in less than 10 years primarily out of fear.

I tried to have a rational conversation with the city, but they gave me a song and dance about how the meter is read a month later, then the water stays on another 60 days before shut off, and how dare we suggest they lose their water sooner, and no way will they contact the landlord when accounts stay in arrears.

Good point Alexander.I'll provide a rational with my bid for sure.Thanks for your clear points on the matter.Regards

My point is that cities and areas who serve the constituents unable to purchase because of other  govt. regulations are behaving rationally.

How do you guys rationalize the purchase of older homes for buy and hold long term investments.