I haven't even looked at whether this is allowed in our city and even if city allows I highly doubt our historical preservation society would approve...last year the house across from my rental got into a legal mess with the HPS on the window trim color...ugh...In this property I have six spots.Last tenant parked in that spot didn't complain.I was in that spot for a couple of weeks last October and didn't notice and I notice everything. 

I suggest checking them on MySpace as well; they tend to not change that so it preserves things they did in the past. 

HOWEVER, (a) many people would rather preserve their checking account "cushion" instead of having it applied to the mortgage where it cannot be "retrieved" if needed later.

There are lots of dilapidated houses in these areas and unfortunately it just continues to get worse and not better.There are a ton of properties on the MLS right now that could be picked up for $10-25k and rented for $350-$500/mo but they would generally be in the areas described above where most of the other homeowners and landlords on the block are not going to maintain their properties to the level that will preserve home values.

It's a historical, well-preserved, "established residential" neighborhood in the middle of the city.After rehab, the 1bed units can pull in $600-650. 2bed, $700-750.

While one can argue it is speculative and may not be advisable, it is nonetheless a valid strategy. 2) For foreign investors, it's an indirect play on strength on US dollars.3) Sometimes real estate preserves values better than other more liquid assets (e.g. cash).

Section 8: Pro: Payment on time / They have to keep up the place to preserve the benefitCons: Management of tenants and inspections.

@Denise Evans if Medicaid redeems from an investor that purchased a tax cert OTC do they have to pay for preservation repairs? 

I'm big on preserving the cash I do have. 

Required: mechanical systems and features necessary for the reasonable maintenance and preservation of the house.Not required: items purely cosmetic in nature, especially if they existed before possession.Fixing the bathroom fan is just plain good sense.