Their claims are:- 2 Dogs in the property (no knowledge of ANY dog living there)- Hiring a separate company to do lawn work than the one stated in the lease agreement. 

Additionally for the pets, a well drained artificial turf area, 10x20 should be fine, if you allow pets. 

Interest rates are forced artificially high initially due to the pipelines being maxed out. 

If Midway is an option then that opens some opportunities to live or invest in areas like McKinley Park or Wood lawn or Brighton Park which might have multi's in that price range. 

Other than the 2 kids I have now, I miss living in the duplex: no lawn care, no house projects since we renovated before moving in, and I got to live for free.

You're forgetting water/sewer, lawn care, snow removal, and admin/professional costs in your expenses.Does owner pay for trash removal in your market?

I stopped over today after cleaning up a rental , they set it up great , one in the back , and 2 on either side , picnic tables , christmas lights , fire pit , trash cans , lawn chairs  and a volleyball net .  

She owes 100$ still, broke lease monthly, destroyed house, I'm worried of lawn fines.

Then you put loam on it and make it the backyard lawn. 

. $$ off rent for l lawn maintenance and painting never hurt.