Always best to err on the conservative side.CapEx/Repairs - you mention the condition of the furnace, roof, and water heater, but still need to account for unplanned expenses.

We came back home to the electric being out for days that was when we discovered the transformer was blown by a squirrel but no one complained because only we were out of power. an underground connection I think is more expensive.

Note that this will not work with an REO unless you do some sneaky squirrel ninja stuff that's probably illegal, as the asset manager will never approve you doing work on the subject property. 

Hi,There are squirrels in the attic of my rental unit.

I want to stay in the general east side area of the city (Highland Park, East Liberty, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze Morningside, etc..)

I have enough squirreled away from my other rentals to get by on the mortgage.I have just been hesitant to purchase a property for so much more than my other rentals that are yielding more cash flow because they were paid off sooner.The cash flow isn't bad on this house....but I didn't want to buy a house based just on cash flow. 

I had to replace some soffit and he covered a hole which a squirrel had made to get into my attic.

Then add some more money on for the unplanned, add in your cost to sell and to buy (transfer tax, real estate tax, utilities) As far as estimating, it isn't easy since there is hardly a way of knowing what multiple contractors are going to tell you .. but I go online and look at the prices of certain things, then add a boatload for labor.

In a rent to own you can charge premium resell price (i.e.190k) , you get a deposit that lowers your cash advance , you collect the majority of the rent (no vacancy/turnover and typically no maintenance costs) ... if you have bought at 105+20 rehab+ 20 financing and closing costs costs and unplanned you total 145... if you sell even at 180 to a rent to own and get a year of monthly payments that give you approx another 10 net, you spent 145 and made 190I hope this makes sense to you... in order for my rentals to work I need to charge 1k rent for 50k house (or 2k for 100k house)...

Hello BP,I have been trying to get a list of delinquent taxes from the Kent County Treasures office here is Grand Rapids.  When I spoke with the office, I was told that strategy doesn't work and home owners do not lik...