While no one should hope for a recession, I am looking forward to some unrealistic/undisciplined buyers realizing how bad their purchases were. 

tenants have some unrealistic expectations if they rent an old home that isn't super insulated and airtight.Even the electric companies and DOE recommend only setting the thermostat to 78F while at home..If they want cooler than that, get them a meat locker or freezer chest, and tell them to go lie in it.

My personal opinion of fail is "quit" so in this case i'm reading this as "why do 97% of people quit"2 reasons....First, It's because they come in with unrealistic expectations. 

I know this is probably unrealistic, but again as long as you're buying a starter home under the cost of construction, it's a good way to preserve wealth and create a retirement plan. 

Sounds unrealistic, but so far we’ve averaging 15k per door per year.

I know this hardly sounds like a problem but my thoughts are as follows;  The value is $450k so if we sell while California real estate is on this unrealistic high we pocket $225k cash and how many homes in the Midwest could we parlay this money with? 

The expectation that you would save all that money all that time is probably a bit unrealistic as well in my estimation (no offense intended whatsoever)... just that you will (or should) find a better interim purpose for the money. 

Can't tell you enough how many inaccurate (always high side) current rent estimates and unrealistic rent growth rate projections I've heard/read and suffered from. 2) Have mental and $ reserves - you have to accept that "stuff" will happen.

In my opinion the BRRR strategy is very unrealistic for most investors in the DMV especially those who are just getting started. 

But I never had such unrealistic expectations in the first place.