If you are positive cash flow and there is no reason not to be, then the market fluctuations are irrelevant.I'm buying because I'm liking the prices now and if there is high inflation then the prices of real estate will increase.

Not sure if you could use that to make a determination about future growth, but one thing is for sure, it's going to continue to fluctuate.

With obsession we become more susceptible to hurting our profits as we quickly get caught up in the small market fluctuations that inevitably occur and end up in a day-trader type of thinking (and end up selling far too early). 

I assume there will be county/state/federal taxes, but I am wondering what the tax numbers are based off of, and the same goes for insurance.For instance, within the same area would you typically find a $100,000 home and a $500,000 home with the same percentage of the value taken out for taxes and insurance, or is it more of a fluctuating percentage based on a number of different variables?

With a loan, the 60% LTV affords me a 40% buffer for market fluctuations, I also get a better return than 9%. 

Now those numbers can fluctuate since some agents will go with 4%, finance costs may be less if you put more cash in, etc.

Based on the size of the house, age and any deferred maintenance from the previous owner, this number can fluctuate quite a bit.

If you budget for expenses and vacancy correctly and still have cash flow then fluctuations in the market shouldn't really bother you... if you're relying on equity, a market correction would hurt.Not to mention that people big in asset protection would say you are better off having little equity so there is nothing for someone to try to sue for.Just my $0.02.

The issue with "borrowing against the box" is the call feature if the portfolio value drops, so long as you allow for a sufficient market fluctuation you should be fine.

The costs are generally the same; it's how much I'm paying that fluctuates.