I have seen the early retirement crowd latch on to the 4% rule, but it ignores a different reality of their stage of life.

Then when he or she is done, hand the person your business card and concurrently ask for theirs.Bingo, you now have a new "Business friend" Stage-1 (you have just networked).Then when you get home send them an email saying "Hello" and that way they have your email and you now have a Stage-2 "Business Friend".Pop them an email every few weeks or so and say hello and you now have a stage-3 "business friend".Then when you see them again at another networking event, "Say hello and ask them if they have been up to anything new".

California is just not doable at this stage.

I actually might be in the beginning stages now of one.  

I gave in to reducing rents, offering free rent incentives, staging a model unit, and putting in an onsite laundromat....all based on their feedback.What I expect in return is to manage our expenses like it was their own money. 

I'm developing a business plan for this retirement community and would like to put a value on the project at the various stages to show potential investors (and myself!) 

The only people who buy in recessions are the people who have been buying in every stage of the cycle.

Out here in WA it’s an utter disaster.

Put ALL the contingencies to get out of the contract, at many different stages, and, at time periods.Keep 45 to 60 days just for inspection and then to get proper estimate from contractors to fix with time frames. 

You might not personally care to do it, perhaps because you enjoy REI (or perhaps because you're afraid of the answer), but it's not appropriate to attack people for feeling differently.The truth is, whether the time required to improve returns is worthwhile depends on the person and stage of life.