This paper evaluates the effects of structure and record characteristics on the peak displacement response of low-damage structures. It firstly discusses some inconsistencies with common displacement prediction methods, and the oscillation resistance ratio (ORR) concept. Single-story structures with flag-shaped hysteresis curves with no increase in strength after the initial elastic response are then subjected to a suite of earthquake records. The structures have the same loading characteristics, but different unloading characteristics, ranging from elastic bilinear (with no energy dissipation, to fully elastoplastic. The effect of (i) scaling of shaking duration, (ii) flag-shaped hysteresis loop dissipation factor (which is associated with a lower ORR and a more pinched hysteresis), and (iii) shaking duration-period ratio, (which is the record duration, divided by structure period), on the maximum displacement was obtained for a suite of records. For low shaking duration-period ratio, maximum displacement was not sensitive to the unloading characteristics represented by hysteresis loop dissipation factor. However, for high shaking duration-period ratio, maximum displacement is increased, and this increase is significantly amplified by lower hysteresis loop dissipation factor. Initial stiffness-based method may be non-conservative for high shaking duration-period ratio and low hysteresis loop dissipation factor. Focusing on the duration-period ratio, allows more general relations to estimate inelastic structural response displacements than more traditional methods.