He has been given a chance to appeal for extra time to stay in the home for medical issues, which he will do given that he recently suffered two heart attacks and his wife has an autoimmune disease causing her to become slowly paralyzed.

I agree when it's done and preserved they look awesome (adds great curb appeal that's for sure)

There's "hardship" appeals, that would give you a rent rise to just over neutral cashflow, that may be the best you can do.http://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/codes/publica...EDIT: Did some googling and ran across this sh*tshow of a court decision.

It's an area that seems to appeal to DINK's in their late 20's and early 30's and hipsters.My observation is that prices have gotten kicked up a little high in this last cycle.  

Here are the details:Duplex will be vacant when we close on property (the owner is moving out of the unit)Rents are potentially at least $700 conservatively, or $1400/mo. once rented outThe duplex is worth between $85k to $100k (I had a hard time coming up with exact comps)I estimate a 45% expenses (on the high end) which put me at a 11.63% CAP rateRepairs are about $35,000 (it needs all kinds of updating, but has good bones and appeal once finished)I offered $45,000 purchase payment with the following terms:$25,000 down payment and $20,000 in 18 months18 months of NO PAYMENTSA 12% interest charged only on the balanceBalloon at the end of the 18 month period (i.e. $20k balance)Therefore, 12% interest on the balance ($20,000) is $2,400Total seller gets is $47,400 after 18 months.  

Is there a reason this method is appealing to you?

Does anyone have suggestions on the material I should study, or a simple guideline of things I should learn to make myself more appealing in this field.

I've read in many places in the BP forums and elsewhere that I should now aggressively attack the debt I carry with prepayments (debt snowball is commonly recommended).The idea of owning my properties free and clear appeals to me (I don't like making mortgage payments, especially the interest portion thereof). 

I always appeal if they clearly make a bad decision and sometimes they give in.  

What can I do to make a low offer appealing?