Go to a REIA and see who has the shiniest cards, the wealthy guys will have a crappy *** black on white card that barely has his info, the broke guy fresh out of his corporate job will have a pretty, shiny one with an impressive title (that doesn't mean anything).You're question is kinda funny: "what [you] say when they meet new people who may or may not know a thing about real estate."

I will write my "rebuttal" to why I buy in black below :) As food for thought.Originally posted by @Rob Randle:I am trying to way the pro's and con's of renting vs. owning. 

There are many in the Boston area:My own Black Diamond, url in my signatureMassrealestate.net run by @Mike HurneyNEREIA.comBostonAREIA.comMyEasternMassREIA.comHouse Flipping School run by @Mike LaCavaBoston Investor Meetup run by @Justin SilverioThere are plenty of others, these are just some of them2. 

The best one to get out to is the Black Diamond meeting in Worcester (they alternate every month with their Waltham location, April is a Worcester month).  

My previous business has been good and healthy, with it being in the black for several years.This year my corporate financials continue to be in the black, however I haven't taken a paycheck. 

Black Diamond in Waltham is great..Also look on Meetup.com for "Real Estate Investors of Metro West" and "Boston Real Estate Connection".

Banks need to shift inventory so black list the very people that can help them??

Is it clear in black and white that you can keep it should they fail to go forward?

"Reasonable" is a matter of opinion.Assuming you have an inspection contingency, you can ask for basically whatever you want, with all parties knowing you can back out if you don't like what you see (or aren't allowed to see).Instead of asking him for a P&L (he might not even maintain a running P&L), you can ask him for a copy of his most recent Schedule E with black marker hiding all numbers but those for the subject property.

For a bold effect, go for lively colors( yellows, oranges, lime green, choice of white and black).