The costs are something I really want to get nailed down.

You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned in your original post that you can fix up the units, but not the entire area.These kinds of properties are not worth the hassle in my opinion.

My first wholesale deal came from a "we buy houses" ad that I put on the back window of my car with shoe polish.

I'm a Polish born, Seattle bred guy currently working in Aerospace Finance in Frankfurt, Germany!

Your last paragraph hit the nail on the head.

It is actually built like a rock b/c they used true 2x4's and I believe they are oak, so hard you can barely drive a nail in em!!

That's where I do most of my shopping and dining.You nailed it with Belmont.  

But then again, when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.  

Nail holes, touch-ups, drains, exhaust fans, heaters/furnaces, a/c filters, gutters, lock changes.  

@Ryan Dossey , you hit the nail on the head.