While I only have about 25K to start my investing career, I thought of an interesting way to potentially acquire the rental property...My friend owns and operates a relatively large landscaping company in our neighborhood. 

I would double check that there aren't any common utilities you will be payingMissing landscaping?

Landscaping can definitely increase ARV, but may make more of a difference when it comes to first impressions of a buyer/renter. 

You can deduct labor costs as long as they are reasonable to what a landscaper will charge for the same work.  

I have a landscape background so we wouldnt have an issue adjusting the grade to the house and tiering the back yard, adding drain tile etc if we decide to move forward.

My town Ventnor City will be putting money in street landscape, businesses, etc. in the area close to AC.

If you are STILL struggling after getting rid of the car payment, the Starbucks habit and the landscaper SELL.Otherwise, get with an agent and have them answer the question of whether you can or cannot feasibily Rent this out at a profit or very least break even.

Etc....... there are about 10 duplex’s before mine and they are all alike (townhouse kind of styled)....MY duplex starts the next set and there are about 10 of ours as well (side by side styled) across the street and the rest of the neighborhood are alllllllll single family homes that are pretty nice and well maintained.So I recently cut down a pine tree from my front yard that I felt like was just a hassle due to the pines that it dropped leaving a constant mess...I bought a Japanese maple tree to put in place of where the pine was and some small shrubs to fill the middle of the duplex and the sides.....The duplexes I mentioned that were BEFORE me all have small trees alike and all are maintained by some landscaping company and from mines down all pretty much have PINE trees.

For example, if one partner wants to invest $20k in landscaping, and one does not, who makes the final decision and who pays for it?

This will be a rental so we want to save money down the road on water and monthly landscaping if possible!