I wanted to scream at him, "Don't you realize that you have to spend the same amount of money anyway, or lower the price by even more than that for me to be interested???" 

The only way you can afford to really do that is if you found a screaming deal before they beat you to it.

My research and time spent networking has all come back to the point that unless you're getting a screaming deal in a hot market, the secondary (or even tertiary, in some cases) markets are going to be best for cash flow. 

I agree, the only way to get the most money back to use again is to find those screaming deals and force some equity. 

Just placing an ad on Craiglist stating out of state landlord with vacant unit screams trouble.

What if you know it so well, that it is screaming at you "don't invest here, you will lose money"?

Don't take this the wrong way but if you say "It's not a scam" that screams one thing to me...

@Kate Pierse - the couple I knew that did this have stopped as well. 

When I did my best to explain I couldn't make an offer he went on a rampage... he was screaming, yelling, telling me I have no respect for seniors, I'm just like all the "others", he even rambled something incoherent about Hillary Clinton... at the end of his screaming he demanded I tell him what I would buy it for, I gave him a stupid low price and he hung up.

I'm in Pittsburgh and I'm ready to scream.