@Justin Thorpe I agree this risk is real but also believe there with probably be some consolidation in the space over the next 10-20 years similar to what going on now in big-box retail...border gone and Barnes & Nobel pick the leftover...circuit city & best buy etc...the top-ranking colleges and the affordable ones will do well while the others will go through hard times...for the landlords, it doesn't help that many colleges also go into the housing business...in one of the markets I considered, a new complex was just completed and removed the demand for about 80-90 SFH in one year.

I understand the breaker broke, but it was in working condition until the tenants overloaded the breaker with the ac unit.

I never considered the sub-panel idea, is that basically just a dedicated panel for the basement that on it's own circuit off a the main panel?

All the power is on the pole and they have the old style break away circuit on the transformer itself.

My wife and I love the area.Keep in mind, it is not necessarily a deal breaker if your rental income is not covering 100% of your mortgage.

if there is an electrical problem.. go to the panel located here.. and check the breaker panel.   

Right after moving in, they claim a single element on the kitchen stove being on is causing a bulb to burn out in a bedroom but magically not trip a breaker.

Mainly due to aloe of power and natural gas use age in the winter months.But I’ve had issues with paid utilities before and that will probably be a deal breaker if I can’t drop the leases and resign with them paying utilities.Also note: the rental rates I’m going to change the lease to; is very good for my area and not at all unreasonable.

So you technically could have walked away from the table without closing the deal if this is a deal breaker for you. 

It had it's own everything, including parking and entrance, kitchen, breaker, you name it.Now I have a house on a lake with a completely separate MIL apartment down stairs.