My goal is to build a buy-and-hold portfolio to earn $5,000 a month in passive income, but I have learned today that passive and active income are gray areas.  

Pale gray going over a yellowish off white. would need 2 gals about $80.

This is a weird gray zone for me, my PM getting multiple quotes would be weird for me because either he doesn't have someone he trusts to do the work, or he doesn't trust that I trust him so he is sending me multiple quotes. 

Quote from @Chad Gray: Really in zip code in Raleigh is fine for rehabbing due to the demand, assuming you can find a good deal.

Quote from @Chad Gray: Hey Zach,I'm a local investor in Raleigh as well.

@Samantha Gray - Are you a US Citizen? 

Condos can also be a gray investment. 

I think most times there’s shades of gray in there

If those are the current body colors of the house, I'd go with a rich, warm hue for the entry, like a deep burgundy, and unless it has a decided function, remove the glass "storm" door.Find a couple of matching, cool-looking mailboxes and position them together centered under the window.I'd also paint the garage doors a dark gray, about halfway between the siding and roof colors.Replace the carriage fixtures with something clean-lined and contemporary, and much LARGER.Then, do some landscaping... start with about 3-5 junipers or anything that grows tightly (almost straight upward) in a column-like form, plant them in a row along the front of the walkway, maybe with some seasonal color at ground level. 

This is the first recession where the government has been handing out money like crazy so this really is making a big gray area of confusion for a lot of people.