Because it is mostly cosmetic, the cost to remodel isn't horrible but you can still get the properties at a discounted rate.

So the credit score is horrible (was a 822 before.

Sorry for the following Contrarian advice, but you're not a 5 year old so:The only reason to buy a personal residence (Home) is because someone is forcing you to.Usually, this person is called your Spouse (which is Latin for someone who forces you to make horrible financial decisions then criticizes you for them endlessly:)perhaps DON'T buy a home, just rent something affordable and invest the 20% or in your case 50% into the stock market (sp500 16.1% yearly return last 15 years, 11% last 50 years, 10% last 125 years)remember, your RENT is your maximum monthly housing expense, but your Mortgage is your minimum or starting monthly housing cost, it always goes up from thereI've, owned 2 personal homes, 100% appreciation in 6years on #1 and in 7 years on #2, (I timed our market perfectly both times), with 20% down and very low mortgage rates, but after honestly calculating all expenses, only made about 5-6% a year "investment wise".

While it is probably well-intended, it is horrible regulation.We've seen a ton of this. 

Not only are they horrible at communication, a stove was stolen from the property when the tenants who weren't paying rent moved out. 

Being from Phila, I can tell you that this can be a great or horrible market to invest in - all depends on LOCATION!

If you don't have much money, then invest your time and energy.Putting a second mortgage on your home to buy a turnkey property is a horrible idea.

You need a new property manager tomorrow.  1) They did a horrible job of screening tenants.

They recommended a horrible property manager, who placed a tenant that I had to evict. 

If you invest heavily into building a portfolio of these and then something happens that downsizes/closes the shipyard, things could go from great to horrible very quickly.