Knowing how persuasive he can be on the phone, I politely told him no additional discussion was necessary.

I'm of the "I hate debt" persuasion. 

Depending on your current situation, and what your plans are for your next purchase, I would suggest one of two things...If you do have some experience in rentals, but not necessarily in apartment buildings (i.e. you own a few condos you're renting out vs owning a 2/3 flat) - with enough persuasion, you can find a lender to take that leap, and finance you on an entry level commercial 5-unit building.

I always say in business, language and persuasion are two very important ingredients needed to be really successful.

Jerryll's SEO approach is obviously working, which is great - yet this was more about the concept of persuasion in it's general form.

I'll second j martin's last paragraph: if you intend to go beyond what section 8 agreed to or attempt to remove the tenant (even by gentle persuasion) make sure to consult a knowledgeable attorney.

I snap a couple of pictures on my phone and spend several hours crafting a persuasive and compelling description of my property.

The hard part is finding that desperate seller that needs friendly persuasion who's willing to sell at a deep discount for fast cash.

Once I understood the art and science of persuasion everything changed for me.

What you'll find is that most of the theories are actually very persuasive on paper, but none have (and many cannot be) implemented in any way close to their ideological foundations.