I may have misunderstood your intention but I think it is unrealistic to try being a real estate investor using cash only.

Jon - welcome in advance ...the 15 min drive time you initially mention is a bit unrealistic  as  getting a few miles in that time from SLU is a rare  accomplishment …..I live in NE Seattle  ... 6 miles from my office in SLU area and it normally is a 30-45 min commute  driving  …..light rail from husky  stadium is great as I can get to office in 30 min  with a 7 block walk from Westlake  station …1.2 mill budget   should cover most of the  North / NE and NW areas of  Seattle proper  …...some other neighborhoods / areas worth a look  include  maple leaf ….Ravenna ..west seattle  ( longer sommute from here ) ...Laurelhurst ...view ridge ..wedgewood if needing financing - get  pre approved  in case you need to make a move on a property quickly  good luck and  feel free to call or email with any questions 

It seems that unless it’s in rough condition and I make a very lowball, borderline-unrealistic offer, the numbers aren’t gonna work.I’m sort of torn because I have an amazing deal on my rent-stabilized one-bed here in Ridgewood, Queens.

I live in Charlotte so it’s unrealistic for me to drive back and forth and do the work myself.

Hey Chivas, This quoted premium is unrealistic, you need to find a new insurance broker. 

These types of posts are actually useful as opposed to unrealistic, aberration examples in which the poster is just showing off with some abnormally high return.

Definitely what I see investors run into most often is not doing enough homework on the back end and getting crazy numbers from contractors that are just unrealistic!

And they aren’t unrealistic.

As Jason Lee mentions the comps you provide (in hand, printed) will help give the appraiser confidence that the price they’re giving isn’t unrealistic, and hence they won’t get questioned about it by supervisors or homeowners

Is it unrealistic to think I can self manage the property?