Mostly people with minimal RE experience are adding a single ADU and they often make that choice based on cash flow without taking into account the negative equity position.  

I've used to it myself to analyze all of the 35 units I bought over the last few years and personally talked to 100's of other investors who've analyzed and closed on great deals using it.I'd love for you to actually try it and would be happy to receive and incorporate any feedback you have into future releases.

As a newbie in RE himself, he wouldn't know how to write those contracts the way they were written, or to target new investors, or to use sub $50k houses.

I thought I was a RE genius. 

If I liked to travel I’d be writing this from one of those year long around the world cruises. 

Most owners are local and therefore “hot” money or out of area players are not yet chasing Pittsburgh assets, keeping prices favorable.References United States Census Bureauhttp://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2017/august/economic-impact-report.htmlMarcus & Millichap 2017 Multifamily Investment Forecast2017 Commercial Real Estate Trends Report by Integra Realty Resourceshttp://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/September-2017/Staying-CMU-All-Eyes-on-Carnegie-Mellons-Future/http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/features/pittsburgh-developments-watch-2017/

I am a local agent here at an investment brokerage, and would love to connect for any future deals you may be looking to purchase.

We wrote into our purchase agreement that a separate septic agreement needed to be drawn up and attached to the recorded deed for all future owners which protected us and the other home owner,  and will make it easier to sell in the future with that in place. 

Did you have an agreement in writing signed by both you and the designer regarding payment schedule and purchases?

Thanks Dennis, I think you're right that planning for a more conservative return would be a good idea.I re-ran my numbers at an even more conservative level:Lower ARV: $800,000Lower income levels (I'm assuming it will take a couple years to get up to full potential income, but giving myself 3 years was a conservative estimate):Year 1: 50k (NOI $1,000)Year 2: 80k (NOI $31,000)Year 3: 100k (NOI $51,000)My ROI numbers come out to:1% (year 1) 46% (year 2) 76% (year 3)This scenario seems like an acceptable risk to me, when the upside seems far more profitable.