If the seller declines, offer some advice, exit on good terms and ask if you can follow up in a month to check in.

I feel really comfortable working with short sales, foreclosures, and folks with inherited properties, but distressed properties are definitely in decline right now with the high market prices.

If I have to go with the 27.5 year depreciation can I use the double declining method?

I was invested in San Diego in 2008 and experienced no rent decline.  

One of my business associates also in the eminent domain process with LADWP was able to get an appraisal at $250,000 for his 5 acre parcel, by a different appraiser.We asked the appraiser to sign a declaration stating that his appraisal was not thorough and complete, since he did not have time to verify my comps, however he declined to sign the declaration.

It's a nice area, but I would call it an area that is in decline to some extent.  

The state is in a recession right now (though the medical/healthcare industry which you are in is doing great) so that means job loss and population decline.

And some of it (in apartments) would depend on the unit size. 2 bedrooms/1 bathrooms didn't decline as fast 3 bedroom/2 bathrooms.

She declined, which isn't surprising, stating that she didn't like the price increase.

Update: I tried to settle with the worker to just remove the lien from the property, but even offering him double what he would have actually been owed , he declined saying, "I would rather pay an attorney all of the money of the total lien than settle with you."