Mailers, cold calls, door knocking... whatever it takes to improve our odds.

I'll book some time with him to focus on this topic and if it still sounds odd I'll take David's advice on seeking a second opinion. 

It seemed like a very odd note to add in the counter offer, and was wondering if anyone else had experience dealing with this.Thanks in advance.

Neal is exactly correct, lower end tenants are getting pushed into rockwood which is worsening crime yet home prices are appreciating there, it's very odd and a real example of "forced appreciation".  

Given that most native-born Americans can't even spell "amortization," what are the odds that these immigrant ESL families really understood what they were signing?

That seems odd.  

If you put 25% down on a duplex the odds are high with one unit empty at 50% occupancy you will have to be putting money in to pay the mortgage each month.With duplexes and quads etc. pay special attention to how the other investors on the street keep up their properties.

The odd part is that the room entry is right off the front entryway where there's a tiled landing.

Odds are there is deferred maintenance that you will need to account for. 

I'm also looking for a general labor crew: someone to install toilets, lay laminate flooring, screw in odds and ends, and build a custom kitchen island.