What city and state is it in?

It looks like most of them have been listed for 2-3 months, so you aren't unique.Another consideration is your distance from the city. 

You may have some extra costs, like dumpster versus city trash collection or parking lot sealing and striping from time to time, and possibly different building standards if you are doing major renovations, but day in and day out they are very similar.  

They're being built in places like Sylmar, Panorama City, and Sun Valley.

In some of the big cities (speaking in Canada), you have people who want to live in Toronto or Vancouver, but they can't afford the rent with their lifestyle...and they don't want to move.   

You are basically changing the dwelling and Baltimore City is not gonna let you do it without getting your money :D))

If you still aren't sure, google the properties listed on the website with the "property name city and acquisition".  

Do they have 5k in high weeds/grass built up from a year of the city mowing at $300 a pop?

Consider Charles Lindbergh’s 1927 solo flight from New York to Paris.

Perhaps it has something to do with the statistical average where in Australia, if you are borrowing 75% on property in the cities or suburbs, it is almost impossible to get positive cash flow ANYWHERE, whereas BP subscribers are aware that in MANY parts of the USA, the opposite is true.