If your goals is purely cashflow, then the appreciation shouldn't be a focus anyways.

Nest Yale Lock- this looks great and seems functional, any troubles other then battery dying?  

Any way around the 25% if it’s a pure investment play?

That agent needs some type of punishment,pure and simple.You need to file official complaints with the agent’s Broker of Record,the local Board of Realtors,and the state’s Department of Real Estate.Let them decide if the agent’s actions were unethical and a violation of National Board of Realtors code of ethics.They could force the agent to give back the commission if they find sufficient evidence against them and their brokerage.

However I want to analyze properties as if I was buying them as a purely passive income property.

I already had the duplex I lived in and another pure investment when I met my wife so she knew to some degree what she was getting into.

This means selling is purely to the retail buyer market, that may prove difficult in Warrensville heights a less desirable city to many next door; beachwood, solon, and orange village.

In my opinion, banking on appreciation and not being cash flow positive is a potential recipe for disaster.Break even or costing you monthly and let’s say worst case happens - market slides and you have to sell for some unforeseen reason as you can’t afford to top up payments or whatever could happen.Now you’re left with a detriment to your personal net worth, not an investment.Don’t get me wrong, some people have done well buying purely on speculation, but out here in 08/09 many people lost their shirt on being spec purchasers.Weigh out the risk and reward...make sure you do your research and time the market right...buying at a boom peak before the bust can be devastating.

You also have the fact that tenants aren't as considerate of properties as live-in owners are, so there are social conflicts as well.Consider investing in a REIT, or buying into a pure rental property.

Maybe I'm wrong and the mirror doesn't challenge your motives because they are pure??