Wondering if I just have to bite the bullet and pay more or keep hunting.  

I fix up a property and bullet proof it once.  

Put your energy and attention there.

A LOT OF ENERGY, for sure.

After investing tremendous amounts of time and energy to making someone else's company profitable, With truly no security, no significant return, or opportunity for residual income.

Hi BP community,My wife and I bit the bullet and did our first Direct Mail marketing campaign.

Personally, I find if I choose decent tenants, it often is more efficient to get them to move on and focus my resources on turning around the unit and focusing on the new tenant (positive energy) rather than chasing the old tenant for a relatively small amount of money that they may or may not have  (anger and negative energy) and paying the lawyer may eclipse the amount I'd collect...

I'm now in my mid-40s and I have more energy, more clarity of thought and have more ambitions and more success than I ever have in my life.Folks - I can't stress this enough.  

They often have good contractors & you get the Energy Credit a lot faster if its a principal residence.

Broker:  Joe, This property is structurally superior to the comparables and has energy efficiencies that dramatically reduce expenses.