There's nothing random about it, it's a statistically based number.

It essentially allows leaf debris to pass over the gutter and the water to still be caught in the gutter keeping them cleaner longer and negating rot and damage to the eaves.

Until you get the project to a certain point it will be negative and then as tenants sign advance leases you build the exterior shells and then the interior is finished with whatever TI's are negotiated.

He's right that when the bubble burst people were underwater on their "investment" and stocks can wipe you out but you can't go negative. 

Multi-family should also be more stable over time, since you have multiple tenants and losing one won't necessarily make you negative cash-flow.I don't think my numbers will make all that much sense to you, since Bay Area MFR tends to run at lower cap rates (lucky to find anything at 5%+ these days).

Now, let’s assume $144 difference actually causes you to have $1,728 yearly negative cash flow.

All the areas where investors are paying $500,000 and up with rents that do not accurately reflect the price range are taking huge risks and are in reality negative cash flow with out knowing it.

One big negative is that property taxes here are pretty high compared to other places.

No the employer will either raise the price of the goods and services they are selling (other busisness then follow suit) negating the wage increase as a whole, or in a lot of cases that I have seen... the employers lays off 2 employees and has one do the work of two people or they outsource the work entirely.  

USA.com for zip code statistics and also areavibes.comAreavibes can be a bit all over the place sometimes though...