Pittsburgh is weird with its neighborhoods though; our house was within a couple blocks of some very rough neighborhoods with some very cheap 8-10K properties for sale.

Only the most desperate renters would probably agree to live there so the price of the property would have to be dirt cheap and cost you as little money as possible in the rehab to make it worth the effort.Your gambling that the surrounding area will be gentrified in the next few years and increase the property values.If this was in Southern California I would say yes absolutely but,the ATL may be a little harder to wait for unless the population booms there in the next 5 years.

Duplex and renting one side out and hopefully developing enough cash flow to live in the other unit for cheap.

Folks, can anyone share contacts who can do painting cheap and well?

I need cheap carpet or wood\lamonet.

When you're a part of an association, board members can bury their head in the sand because they're cheap or unqualified to make decisions.

They are in our original home town where my husband and I grew up (and the area is a rental dream and cheap prices).  

You need to contact a real estate attorney who performs litigation and not just a contract and "book" Attorney.They will have private investigators who will track down and investigate the property management and interview the tenants.You may have a bit more problems than you know about,yet.This won't be cheap but you have got to protect your property and investments from fraud and abuse.

Most buildings don't quality for a 75 LTV more 65 or 70 sometimes 60 :-/If you can partner with some other owner who has units for cheap to offer alternatives. 

If you can find his game CashFlow cheap somewhere, or know someone who owns it, it might be fun for you to play, some people have had "aha" moments while playing.I would also recommend a sight called Mr.