This resulted in a $250+ water bill and effectively two garden houses wide open running for 4 days. 

You just want to make sure that you are eyes wide open or you can get yourself into trouble.

Just set your tenants on 6 month leases and update the rents twice a year if it worries you that much.But if there are more restrictions, like a city-wide proposal that only allows you to increase the rents 3% per year, be on the watch for a MAJOR retaliation from landlords city wide.Here’s the thing about business-minded people… you can’t tax them.

Here’s some of the numbers I’ve been getting:Demo: 6500 + Dumpsters (395/40yd probably need 3 40’s)Roof: 6910 (real bid, replace some sheathing, repair penetrations, repair gutter, spray entire roof with 100% silicone roofing sealant (the white stuff that’s UV reflective).Tuckpointing: 4500 (back wall of property about 5’ wide and the entire 2 stories needs tuckpointing)Plans: 5000Permits: 2000Framing: 27000 (this I think is insane, but hard to tell without knowing what walls need to be moved/reframed) What’s a good cost on framing in St.

I would really encourage you to take a look at the house hacking angle.

In my experience and with me personally I'm most likely to help someone who comes at me from a serving angle vs a teach me angle. 

I've purchased from foreclosure auctions in Queens before, and the margins arent that wide.

I'm with you on getting paid to learn how to size houses up, that's my rationale for getting into REI through an alternative angle like appraising or inspections.

That's lower end entry...there is a wide range in Denton and there are opportunities, depending on your risk tolerance to look at higher end...in Denton County we are still undergoing strong expansion and are seeing spill over of development around the top of the lake. 

based on vast landlord experience -  I believe that is the way to go.lower rent = more calls to your rental = easy to choose the best applicant from a wide variety of applicants...Use it when you you have a vacancy longer then usual...