We normally do not seek judgement due to the expense that is involved, even after you win you have to continue to renew the judgement every year.We put them in collections and have it hit all three credit bureaus.

It is validating to hear that most of you feel communication about this matter would be normal/expected.

Work on your living cost versus doing the normal buy a duplex and out $69,000 down.  

You'll just have to figure out how much utilities normally are for your calculations. 

Jaron Walling said something that caught my attention, "search for and buy a bad roof, leverage it during the negotiation"....especially of the property has been sitting on the market longer than normal for the current market, a "bad roof" might be a gift from the real estate genie.My point is this: get good at estimating and fixing a bad roof (or any particular problem found with most houses that sit on the market longer) and you'll get comfortable buying/fixing properties that scare off other buyers. 

Does property 1 with refinance seem like a normal refi cost?

I am by no means a savvy investor so I would just like to hear other ideas that may be unconventional for a normal guy without much experience.  

Normally, my preference would be a Duplex for ease of learning, but after looking at the price point in a place like Cleveland, I theoretically could purchase two Single Family's there.

Gunshots , dealers on the corner , break ins , trash and junk piling up , hookers , gang signs , just the normal stuff 

I would love to hear from investors who have done this before if this small of a profit % is normal?