My mentor strongly encouraged me to be neutral-- if you weren't there, you do NOT know what was said/done/why, it's messy-- but has nothing to do with you.      

I'm still upset that I'll be legally bound to provide a neutral reference........any way around that?

An investor needing to execute a 1031 Exchange may be more than willing to take a neutral or even slightly negative cash flow and bank on appreciation and rent escalation, because it's cheaper than paying capital gains.  

Another reason why a lot of people tend to get started in RE investing or stay neutral is because they don't know WHERE to start.

Hi @Caleb Heimsoth, I read @Ali Boone's  book Turnkey Rental Properties 101 and thought she made some good points about the value of working with a promoter vs. working directly with a provider - super summarized, providers have a vested interested in selling you on their market and their properties while a promoter may work in numerous markets and with numerous providers and can be slightly more neutral about which one you choose. 

I was a bit surprised because I really was not talking to anyone, if anything they were coming to me and voicing their displeasure, and honestly I was neutral.

And like many am considering a 3.5-5% FHA loan for a two or three family to at least neutralize cost of living and perhaps create some cashflow, although that seems difficult in my area.

Thanks @Andrew Syrios - I have a lender lined up who will refi @ 75% the ARV, I'll just have to endure the first 12 months of being cashflow neutral. 

Consider having it etched - either acid or sand-blast - to change the appearance.If you MUST paint, please use some neutral color - nothing which stands out.

@Evan Kilbourne, @Larry Fried is not a neutral party, but a promoter for a particular site (that he promotes with that article on every post, regardless wheher it's a fit for the person or not).