In contrast, for a duplex, you only need to demonstrate sufficient personal income, and you can also use additional income from one of the units to help qualify for the loan.

I find the comparables to be the most entertaining; they include properties that are not nearby and clearly not similar as bench marks data points or they include deals from more then 2 years back and you know the market is not the same as it was.As an academic exercise it may be interesting to compare and contrast the information they contain, how accurate the information is and how realistic the projections are from the different companies.As well, if you troll around the internet a bit, you will come across many investment / development partnership opportunities where they provide fairly detailed information regarding financing, expenses, income, expected net income, profit sharing, etc. etc.

In contrast, my SIL bought a house around the same time as us for $45k more, in the center of the hood (I was concerned about parking my car in her driveway) and she saw comps sell around $250-300k, while we only gained a fraction.

Contrast this with the fact that the average DOM for other retail properties in my area tend to be just over 100 days, and you can see how the decisions we make (and the fact that we're willing to give up a few dollars in exchange for shorter holding periods) impact our average DOM.

I have driven through part of westmont which were dated but on the contrast ive driven through parts with mansions.

An even starker contrast is between the top 1% of the top 1% and the next 9% of the top 1%.  

By contrast listen to Dale in Podcast#179 who didn't have much when he started but most importantly didn't have fear and was comfortable learning as he went along.

Sadly, I suspect there will be quite a few lots on the market--which is in complete contrast to the past decade when there have been almost none. 

New roof and other major repairs would be my main concern.Just my 2 cents, hopefully you get other comments below to contrast...

one contrast is conventional money is 30 year fixed while portfolio and business make sense loan programs at community and local banks are usually 5/1, 7/1, 10/1, or 20 year fixed with balloon periods at times.