Nowadays, code in NJ is something like an outlet on every wall and no more than 6' apart --- so a 13' wall requires two sets of outlets. 

Nowadays, I see too many men my age do what's best for her and not realize she needs to do what's best for us.

Everyone takes pictures of everything nowadays, we all have phones in our hands constantly, so I don't believe they don't have pictures.Your Contractor is right in not re-pouring the driveway while it is so cold, so I would believe his story.I would stick to your generous offer to deduct a few bucks off of the rent (maybe $100) for their troubles and then tell them to go pound sand.

.#5: Cash-flow plays are incredibly hard to do in most cities nowadays.

That said, they are attracting more non-medical users nowadays as their market share has increased.

But there may be a "weird" carrier out there willing to write this on a homeowners policy, but those are rare nowadays.

There are so many was to generate seller leads nowadays.

Nowadays it can be pretty slim pickings. 

If you want to gamble on appreciation just go to the casino and put it all on red or black at the roulette table. 

Agreed,Lot's of deals to be found in Ohio.Tougher nowadays but still enough to stay busy.Just to answer the OP's initial question also.Loosing on a deal in the first few years is risky business.When I first started investing in 2010 and back home in Australia, I built a large portfolio and fairly quickly.Lot's of debt...Monthly mortgages where costing me more than I was generating in income.It was a slow bleed so I decided to liquidate and move to cashflow friendly markets in the US (Specifically Ohio).In hindsight, those same properties if owned today would have made me millions in capital gain profits.So if you are looking for an appreciation play, make sure to have enough income from your W2 or other means to withstand the slow monthly bleed until the properties appreciate so much that you end up being in the green even tho you bled monthly.Again, very risky business IMO.Much success