HUD Home w/ Egress problem. Would you buy it?

[James H.]

I looked at a decent HUD home today near where I live in CT. It's an older Victorian converted into a two unit. They are asking $80k but I would bid perhaps $60k it needs some modernizing. The building has three floors, the third floor houses the bathroom and bedroom of the second floor 2nd unit. Here's the problem the unit on the second floor has no form of egress. There is an excellent spot to add one however, only about 20ft off the ground level and it would work well attaching stairs to this sort of little sunroom that extends out past the roof edge on the second floor. Is it a huge pain in the you know what to add another form of egress? Like a simple metal staircase. If you're interested to see the numbers I can send you the deal. After a thorough work through it will cash flow with both units rented at $300 for both units. So $150 each. I would like to BRRR/House hack this property but no form of egress on 2nd floor got me thinking..

thoughts on adding one? Would you? Can we do the work ourselves?  

James