:Class A Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, 3-5 years for positive cashflow, but you get highest relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% the more recent norm.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 680+ (roughly 5% probability of default), zero evictions in last 7 years.Class B Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, decent amount of relative rent & value appreciation.Vacancy Est: Historically 10%, 5% should be applied only if proper research done to support.Tenant Pool: Majority will have FICO scores of 620-680 (around 10% probability of default), some blemishes, but should have no evictions in last 5 yearsClass C Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, high cashflow and at the lower end of relative rent & value appreciation.

Given this is where my major operating expenses fell (beyond taxes and insurance), keeping this cost lower, by average, helps my cash flow.I invest in older neighborhoods, so the 2-4 unit properties, typically have single water meter, maybe single electric, and many have radiator heat with a single boiler.  

Since you and your wife have renovation skills, targeting properties that need minor improvements can maximize your return on investment while minimizing the time and cost associated with major renovations.

The vast majority of "regular" or traditional (Conv/Govt) mortgages are originated by specialty lenders and brokers and are sold in the secondary market to provide yield on bank balance sheets (think Chase or BoA) or to be securitized into MBS.

Or if you plan on staying in the property for a while, some people aim to just pay less than their current rent.In a real estate market where housing affordability is a major concern, house hacking actually stands out as an even more valid strategy than ever for buyers.

However, I would avoid neighborhoods where the vast majority of the homes are owner occupied and all of the homes are really well kept - you can do a quick search on county GIS or software and click on the homes to see if they are owned in personal names or LLCs. 

When we had major storm damage to our place, I considered hiring a public adjuster too.

And for vast majority of persons delayed debt payments results in accruing debts, because they find they have less left to pay down than hoped.

I think there are two maybe 3 ways to look at this in my mind.  1) you go into it and bring it all up to modern standards but using that old charm to basically take what is there bring it up to modern standards and rent it out essentially I'm thinking cocktail bar or something trendy like that.2) most banks are on really good centrally located real estate if this is true, then I'd consider it for the dirt, plan to scrape the lot and go vertical with whatever the highest and best use is.3) a kind of combo of the two, if the lot is in a good location and its doable, pull the vaults or other "character pieces" out of the building, scrape the lot, and build whatever is best suited for the site there, but incorporate those historical pieces into the final designs.Is the site near a major retail area? 

However, I don't feel the majority of tenants are considering that when trying to find a place to live.