It's nice year round down here, so I don't think that we would experience the same decline as other areas that get snow storms.  

This allows me insight into when is a good time to buy or sell a property.If operating expenses stay steady or increase but property values and rent rates decline so do your profits. 

There are some obvious exceptions where populations are declining dramatically like Detroit but like Chris and Alex I find Memphis to be a great market.

But yes I think there is an option to decline - I guess needing to accept the money isn't so bad after all.

If there are no reasons to decline based on the info indicated and a google search on the applicants I would request the fee for the background and credit check, and then order the report.

Area housing markets rise and decline effect transactional investors different than residual investors.

We declined, because in addition to the sales price, there were additional commissions and fees that would add about $6k more. 

That is a far cry from dropping to zero I agree, but it does speak to the velocity of value decline when it does decline.

We countered with $1K contribution from seller and abruptly the offer was declined by Freddie with no explanation except for "unjust hardship" They would not elaborate any further.

Plus I am not sure I want to invest in areas that do that, cos it seems a lot of those areas are losing population and so possibly future declines in sales price and rents..But I am looking at the properties I have now, the way I financed them now.