Pretty much: paint, new high quality impact windows, new open kitchens, upgrade to the bathrooms, new central and efficient AC units, great looking garden, and new fence.

I can deduct 30% of utilities, gardening expenses, property tax, etc. against rental income of the new space3.

My wife and I just got done rehabbing a brick two flat in Ravenswood Gardens.

They ran a garden hose for the washer and plugged the dryer into the stove's 220 outlet.

Even a nice city like Corona has the Home Gardens are, which is a lot like SB, in it.I would not cross SB off, I would just be very careful when considering a property there to see if it fits your requirements as a whole.

But because Houston has no zoning laws, just 6-8 miles south of that you have very desirable housing of the Garden Oaks and Heights neighborhoods. 

I know a lot of others that played the other side of the highway in garden oaks and did well.

I live 30 minutes by train from Madison Square Garden.  

Interested in townhouse style building but also not opposed to garden style.  

., I've heard that the Garden City inspector is tough when it comes to concrete.