To be fair, I'm not saying the Midwest is a bad market but you have to be really careful where and what you buy. 

She said she could care less because they were original.So different Inspectors have different concerns......

Yes, if you know the lenders who do not care about seasoning, no if you do not or get the money and season it so the deposit can't be seen.Now, that is a nightmare scenario and let me tell you why. 

I have a nearly couple dozen in the area and my average rent is almost $900.Be careful who you take advice from

If you can buy something habitable, and rehab it over time while you live there, that could be a home run of an investment when you look at your return on investment, especially if you house hack.Sure you may leave cash in the deal, but if you buy right, it could still be an extremely profitable and low-barrier to entry way to get into real estate.

That's what I requested because I was wanting to know who was in charge of paying utilities and lawn care/how much lawn care is.

@Zach WainWe also need to be careful what we wish for.

Aside from that the biggest value add areas I see are as follows: Kitchens, Bathrooms, decks/patios (if added), additional rooms/bathsKitchens and bathrooms tend to be the go-to, but all of those can help you get the most bang for your buck. just keep in mind that if the area is already of high quality, then it may not be the best area to spend the money vs something that is blaringly in need of an update.

Just be careful your expenses and time to complete don't go over.

@Cindy NgGood for you for taking care of your elderly parents.