Even if people have money to invest the poor credit long term will stifle a lot of chances for growth. 

When buying new properties try to stay in the areas of growth and choose growing population and diverse economies.  

They look best when you cut them back in the late winter/early spring before spring growth but I think they do ok without.

Not only will that investment from Ford make an impact, the area has seen tremendous growth in jobs and housing prices.  

I have read some of the blogs and have gained immense amount of knowledge.

Leverage IS one of the keys to growth!

The University of Chicago is putting a lot of money into the neighborhood and I'm expecting a lot of growth.  

I also have (through a tenant paying rent: mortgage principal payments) equity growth.

Tacoma is posting some of the highest rent growth in the country with some of the lowest vacancies.

They ignore appreciation, rent growth, volatility/risk of the NOI (though they can be used as a good reflection of that), how you have the property financed, any value added to the property, tax implications, etc.