See which deal  has the best math.

Always remember to do the math analysis on prospective properties and try to look at them or at least before you make an offer or at least have a clause in the sales contract that allows you the inspection time (about 15 days) that is detailed and allows you to possibly back out of the deal without a penalty that will hurt you too much.

Then do the math and see if it makes sense to do the upgrades or if it's better to just sell as is.

So, they make the math a bit more complicated for me.  

Doing the math I figured with a 4 bd home I could rent out each room for about $500, $600 for the master bd, is $2100 gross rent minus the holding costs of utilities, mortgage, cap ex, etc, (1700) = $400 net cash flow (calculating if I didn't live in it, if I did I would be paying out of pocket $100/month to live with 3 other people).  

I came across a 5-plex in San Pedro, CA. A Rent Controlled Area. Rougher part of town but with a huge 1 billion development starting in 1 year near by. I have only seen the exterior and it looks rough. I'd imagine the...

Always remember to do the math analysis and try to look at the prospective property before you make an offer or at least have a clause in the sales contract that allows you some time (usually 15 days) and to allow you to back out without a penalty that will not hurt you too much.I also went to college, not that it is mandatory, and I got a business degree that had a real estate emphasis.  

Always do a math analysis and try to look at the prospective properties before you make an offer or at least have a clause in the sales contract that allows you the time (usually about 15 days) to make a detailed inspection and possibly back out of the deal without a penalty that will hurt you too much.I went to college too (and it is not mandatory) and I got a business degree that emphasized real estate.  

Sounds like you have a lot of math to do. 

I can barely justify the payment the way I'm figuring it, and am hoping perhaps that isn't the way the math should be done.