We will shop for used appliances where we can when we need one… or pick up used cabinets if we can, or search eBay for something smaller,  but going to the extreme of personally shipping something big in internationally for one-off renovation needs seems like a stretch of reasonable.Just like you mention, the number of unknowns would not seem to be worth it to me.Just my 2 cents.Randy  

Personally, my primary residence has appreciated around 6% in market value and I live in Levittown. 

I personally would never invest somewhere that could outlaw rentals.

The challenge was balancing the relationship between landlord/tenant and a personal/friendly relationship.

Yes I have known it to work because the owner is not a push over, enforces policy and can make it run good......however, do you have the right personality to do this, AND if you move out can you continue to have the house run smoothly with no one in charge.  

I personally started in my local real estate market in Columbus Ohio.

Make sure your personality matches your path.  

Personally I like the Section 8 program when the property is located in a super poor area with a ton of blight and crime.

Or if Josh is just so damn clueless that he doesn't realize (despite being told multiple times) that I am not the person whom he is in a dispute with.

Balance data with personal priorities.