She did move in two cats during her tenancy (with my permission after the fact), and the house was left in fairly good condition when she moved out:Most holes were patched (though some in the basement were missed).It was moderately clean but needed extra cleaning due to cat hair in the carpets.Minor issues included:A missing doorbell.Missing shower hardware.One of the window blinds needed replacement.A truck bed full of items left in the shed that I had to haul away.Since I was in a pinch between Christmas and New Year’s, I hired professional cleaners for a quick turnaround.

Beyond the bedrock issue, soil conditions can be costly if the property has problematic soils such as too much silt, deep topsoil, or extensive wetlands.You'll also want to know what ordinances are going to affect your budget - things like tap fees, tree ordinances, storm water retention policies, etc.Bottom line is that you have to investigate ordinances, off-site conditions, and on-site conditions before you can even begin to budget your development.

My previous tenant left the yard in a poor condition before moving out.

Quote from @Daniel Tanasa: Another option is to get a small cash out refinance from the house you plan on fixing up, if is in financeable condition, and use that to fix it up, while still cash flowing.

@Albert Gallucci as many have pointed out, in the commercial space of 100+ apartment buildings and offices, property classes have some pretty decent industry standards.We started applying these to 1-4 unit properties around 10 years ago, which you can verify on our blogs, because we saw too many newbie investors not properly taking into account things like, neighborhood status, tenant pool, property condition, etc.Unfortunately, there's no industry standard for this, but you can use some basic logic to think your way through your own Classifications.

I’ve found a duplex that seems to be in good condition, with both units currently rented out.

For abandoned parks with infrastructure, some lenders may consider them as long as there’s a plan for the rehab and the infrastructure is in good condition or can be repaired.

Overall, Section 8 is a good way to get some pretty reliable income to get the property cash-flowing, provide additional experience, as well as with the required annual inspections, make sure your property stays in a good condition! 

Its proximity to campus, turnkey condition, and rental history make it particularly appealing to investors seeking high cash flow and low vacancy risks.

Look for properties with high cash flow potential, good condition, and room for improvement, such as value-add opportunities.