It also seems as a negotiating tactic that is becoming far more popular.My other assumption is that OpenDoor's margins will likely only decrease as time goes forward if the market dictates the need is there. 

Good third layer would be LLC structure, but your lending may dictate otherwise - talk with your lender.

Quote from @Dave Skow: @Nahon Torres- columbus is a notch or two  higher in price and rental  income than Clev.    ..Depending on your  avaiable  funds this  might  dictate where you should focus  pricing on an average home is more than double

Basic supply and demand would dictate either supply rising greater than demand or a significant lower demand, or a more-likely somewhere in-between.

Should the budget dictate whether post cards or yellow letters are used?

As some have alluded to, local and state laws may dictate what you can charge. 

To that end, the IDFPR has authority to initiatedisciplinary proceedings against licensees for violations of the Illinois Real Estate Act of 2000.The IDFPR may “refuse to issue or renew a license, may place on probation, suspend, or revokeany license, reprimand, or take any other disciplinary or non-disciplinary action as theDepartment may deem proper or impose a fine not to exceed $25,000 upon any licensee underthis Act . . . for any one or combination of” the grounds for discipline set forth in §20-20 of theAct, 225 ILCS 454/20-20.Additionally, a licensee may be subject to both civil penalties and criminal liability for theunlicensed practice of real estate brokerage:Any person who practices, offers to practice, attempts to practice, or holds oneselfout to practice as a real estate broker, real estate salesperson, or leasing agentwithout being licensed under this Act shall, in addition to any other penaltyprovided by law, pay a civil penalty to the Department in an amount not to exceed$25,000 for each offense as determined by the Department. 225 ILCS 454/20-10(a).Any person who is found working or acting as a managing broker, real estatebroker, real estate salesperson, or leasing agent or holding himself or herself out asa licensed sponsoring broker, managing broker, real estate broker, real estatesalesperson, or leasing agent without being issued a valid existing license is guilty ofa Class A misdemeanor and on conviction of a second or subsequent offense theviolator shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. 225 ILCS 454/20-22.It is a fundamental principle under Illinois law that parties can agree to any terms, and can contract in any situation, as long as there is no legal prohibition or public policy that dictates otherwise.Contracts for the sale of lands, tenements, or hereditaments or any interest in or concerning them for a term longer than one year must be in writing to satisfy the Frauds Act.

The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) dictates what constitutes a sale, title rights and ownership rights conveyed for real or personal property, including intangible assets, contract rights, copy rights, etc.

Is the supply/demand dictate higher demand than supply?   

If you lose your job (or tenant), any rainy day savings you have will not last as long (it takes time to find another job or tenant).How much debt is too much debt is determined by your bank and should also be dictated by your own common sense.