Think about it this way: just about every person you know, see, or talk to has flat or negative value - meaning if you sold off all their assets and paid off all their debts they'd still owe money.

If it doesn’t, then the option becomes worthless.In a market with flat to falling prices, you can get caught on the wrong side of locking in properties at current prices since that option money goes out the window...If the property does increase in value, then someone might want to buy the option off of you.

Several investors are having success with converting their 2 flats into single family homes and selling.

@John Moore Most management fees typically are percentage based, although some companies do offer flat-fees.

What you could have is a mainline that is flat or trapped , and the paper is not flowing to the tank creating the back up 

I have a group of roommates renting one of my properties right now, but I did just a flat rate.

Water is flat rate based on fixture count- no meters. 

@Anton Bachuk The PA income tax is the SAME less than 1 year and more than 1 year at the flat rate of 3.07%, so for PA doesn't make any difference. 

@Mary Mitchell I read a statistic saying the average appreciation of homes is around 3-4% If you take into account the hot markets going up almost double digits, that leaves some markets near flat.

I have been in deals where cash flow was skinny, but to get into a deal where you know you're going to be upside-down even after repairs just flat doesn't make sense.