There is a significant amount of deferred maintenance on the building, and as such, the rent are $80-$100 below market (though it's difficult to raise them because we have rent control that limit the rent on occupied apartments to inflation - unless the apartment is vacant, in which case I can raise it to whatever I want).The seller's agent has suggested that the building needs about $80K of work to get it in good condition, and here's a list of some significant items:-rear wall (east facing) has had bulging brick veneer removed and is ready for new siding or brick-roof currently has a leak around the chimney - needs to be sealed and drywall repaired in one area (potentially would make more sense to remove chimney and vent boiler out exterior wall)-one vacant unit (2br) now could use sprucing up in bathroom and paint/flooring throughout -one unit coming up for oct 1 (1br) could use upgrade in kitchen and bath and paint/flooring throughout -common areas could use some sprucing up - paint, maybe lighting, entrance door, perhaps flooring to improve 1st impression I've owned property before, but I am no handyman, so I'd need a general contractor to walk with me through the building condition.

That got me thinking...I have a traditional, center entrance, 2 up, 2 down , all the same 2br floor plan, seen one, seen em all, 1960-ish City of Milwaukee four family.We've always carpeted the living room, hall and bedrooms.

The 2nd unit is technically a guest house with an exterior entrance which I would intend to rent out.

Each participant will get FREE entrance into the event and light delicious complimentary appetizers will be served on a first come first serve basis.

I am currently looking for a personal residence and would love to be able to house hack, however duplexes are essentially non-existent where I will be moving.My question is: Is it reasonable to dig out a back entrance to an already finished basement?

Both houses share the backyard but also have their own private street entrances so neither occupant has to go through the others entrance.  

A rear door entrance made the house conversion fairly inexpensive and of course created 5 separate rental units and of course more income.Obviously, my basic idea was to purchase three rental units at the regular 3-unit price, knowing all along I would be able to modify them and quickly start earning 5 units worth of income.

Hi BP, I found some MFHs with only one entrance for all units.

kitchen needs to be completely redone anyhow... so extra cost for the kitchen is to move the plumbing. building is actually a duplex on a slope... so in the back there is a deck... if I make entrance to the side, I need to build a deck, but most importantly I need to cut an opening... one challenge is that ALL walls a cement/cylinder blocks.... making all works harder...

For size estimates, consider a rectangular area with space for 14-16 cars with a central lane for entrance/exit.