I've even thought about the idea of buying a lower value home and do a live-in flip.

I haven't pulled comps official comps yet, but just doing some self-assessment via Zillow with similarish homes sold in the last 6 months, this house already priced $25k lower than what those sold for (I say "similarish" because they were remodeled, had garages instead of being a duplex, etc.), which makes me think the sinkhole is NOT already fixed (this is a question I have out to my agent). 

I agree with Mike, Worcester will allow you to get the CAP rate you want at a lower price point. 

Right i'm usually figuring out 100 ways to try to keep borrowers/homeowners in their properties  and even lowering their payments at the same time.

Expenses, vacancy and taxes can be much lower that other areas.

Maybe we can hook-up there.Jacob,I think just some neighbohoods in the northeast and some neighborhoods in the lower valley you have to watch out for.

We can certainly afford our current (and potential new lower) mortgage, but we'd need a workaround...if one exists.Anyone have any creative financing ideas about how we might be able to accomplish the downsizing with the variables I've presented?

It should work fine, particularly if you have access to folks who need less space and lower rents...think students, medical interns, etc.

I've seen CTRs nearly triple after updating ad copy with headlines such as "Looking For A Lower Price?

If they go up the year after you buy for more than you paid you can easily protest yourself, show them the closing docs as well as any pictures of the property (the worse the better) and they will usually lower it to the price you paid since that is the true market value.