For all others- if you are a genuinely distressed seller in need of help- if you can't afford your house, you're behind on payments / taxes; uninsured; or you're a burnt out landlord with tenant / eviction issues; facing job re-location, divorce, or life has otherwise happened to you-- maybe you took advice from how to invest in real estate from some message board, and now you've got a dog or dogs you need to unload?

After the value component is done, I assume a 2% rent growth and 2% expense growth for life of the deal.

In my corporate life I managed a division that provided short sale fulfillment to the large mortgage companies. 

Even if you think you have won, time always deals a healthy dose of karma.

I would hate being so young and staying in one place my whole life just for a career(I'll be starting as a real estate agent btw).

Don't leave income on the table just because you will be taxed on it.3) Most real estate expenses are deductible in the year you pay them, especially if the benefit is immediate (like a utility payment or property tax).4) Some expenses are prorated through the life of the improvement, such as depreciable buildings and roof repairs.

I have learned in my 40 years of life that the appreciation is greater when it is earned.

If they sold you a deal, they expect to own the listing for life.

. :-) Phil has been in the construction industry his whole life, primarily single family homes and has recently transitioned into multi-unit residential developments.

Not everything is very black and white, however, and a lot may depend in some situations on how much useful, depreciable life is considered to be left in the asset replaced.