And as Rod mentioned, you can also get the updated approved rent limits, which can be higher than the market rate.

Not to mention, if your a realtor your offers can be more competitive on MLS properties.

Bad - No significant appreciation which makes undertaking large projects/maintenance for a historic home a potential large money pit as @Steve Santacroce mentioned.

(It might also be worth mentioning, as your guy thinks about making this product, that any kind of data solution that generates predictive modeling to be used by a large number of clients has some significant liability exposures that he would want to mitigate, actively, and probably at the architecture level.)

Not to mention the ROI, I fear it would cost me about 10,000 USD per unit if it is at all possible.

(I forgot to mention that despite the difference in location, the average rent is not that much less)Also, any suggestions on obtaining financing for deals under $30K?

Did I mention, put everything in writing?!

Not to contradict Rick, but before paying a designer find an experienced contractor (preferably with background in your type of project), they'll have the knowledge and ability to work with you as you mentioned.

I think of an escrow fee as money the closing agent (escrow company) puts in their pocket for services they render, such as, the 50/50 escrow fee you mention, plus demand fee, wire fee, grant deed fee, trust certification fee, loan tie-in fee, etc...all the fees paid to escrow that one typically sees on a hud-1.

I use a guy in Ohio who is both a lawyer and tax accountant and who specializes in real estate, so yes, you can find a "combo packages" as it were.Although I'd guess that you're probably not going to find one person who can do all that you've mentioned above.It sounds to me like you're looking for two pretty separate things, really: 1) a business advisor/mentor, and 2) a legal/tax advisor.