Driver around all the streets and look for vacant houses.

Depending on how renovated and the exact street, I would say $3,000-$3,500.

Houses on my street just 2 blocks away command at least $150 more in rent.  2) lead paint certs just depend on the property.

Specifically I am looking a  duplex on A street near Eleanor st.

There in great locations on busy streets.

deals are like street cars there is one on every corner... you are now wiser as well.. you now know if you want something just because they gave you a few days to respond .. sign the contract ASAP... you always have your due diligence to get out no big risk in signing the counter offer to purchase unless there is no contingencies and your putting up some substantial EM like 20 to 50k or so..

Google street view is amazing but since you will Likely only be able to purchase one property in the next 12 months, I would wait until your back in the states.

A renovated house down the street sold for $198,000 last month.

Funny how the one we did the best on was across the street from a teaching hospital, and the ones we didn't do too well on were C areas that descended into D areas quicklyWe always said that once we had some equity built up in our primary house, that we'd tap into it and start investing again.

Several investors have come in to purchase other homes (street has several other duplexes) on the street and have improved these properties as well.