I fully agree.If you do not have cash flow and the market goes down, you are paying to own an asset that is declining in value.If you have cash flow, at least you are getting paid, and can wait out any downturn.

Write it down for records.Hire Lawncare:  If they decline or miss the deadline, hire the lawncare and deduct from their security deposit. 

I have a point system that gets me to a decline, continue, or holding pattern decision before I spend money on screening, and I keep them all moving forward as fast as I can.

In addition, the negative amortized amount increases the balance due on the total loan, which can be a problem if the value of the home declines.

I would put down 20% on the home, which is the key part of the strategy that I am unsure about because I see many people like to put down as little as possible, but I don't want to put down 3.5 percent, only to have the housing market start to decline, because I do not understand this risk associated with only putting 3.5 percent down vs 20%.

Huntington however (which has a much less thriving economy) has several deals within that criteria but has and will likely continue to experience population decline.

I couldn’t believe my luck and told the broker to decline it (to say no) since I was sure I would get more offers and a bidding war was to ensue, which was going to net me 10% above asking price.…..Wrong!

Personally, I do expect rents to decline... but if you find the deal that bakes in correction protection... i'd say go for it.

Brian Adzadi the Midwest was about the least affected market by the housing crash although many rust belt markets have been in decline well before the crash

But, the area is declining, horrible neighborhood.