Have a late fee in your lease.Leaving trash in the yard, tell them to clean it up because if the city gives you a fine, who do you think is going to pay for it?

I guess my next question is, why Kansas City? 

If that isn't satisfactory speaking at a city counsel meeting about the subject would also seem appropriate. 

The city required the road to be extended a few feet, along with water and sewer.

The City of Portland, and Multnomah County are more restrictive than most of the state for instance. 

I would like to know how to read the market a lot better and learn how I can see wether or not a certain city is thriving or not, if where I purchase the duplex is thriving I'll just settle there and target SFH's there instead of moving out of state.  

To be honest, I´m in the Maintenance & Construction for corporate businesses for some US companies in Mexico and we do some Real Estate down here also, but it´s way much different than the US, so I have much to learn from a lot of people around here and as @Julio Gonzalez, I think this is pretty much the right pad and place to start and to break my fears to start all over again from scratchAlso, I´ld like to hear more from @Justin Brickman why he voted for his city, pros and cons, it will help to read from a local...As I said before, thank you all guys for taking the time to write in this post and share some experienceDo you plan to owner occupy. $40k will not get you a non owner occupied San Diego property unless you find some unlikely alternate financing.

The City of Detroit is block-by-block in many Class B & C areas.In our opinion, zip codes cover too large an area.We use Detroit Neighborhoods, which are much smaller than zip codes.

Their home has been vacant for over 4 years and is uninhabitable as the city water dept cut off service due to a faulty septic system spilling sewage in both our backyards.

I've lived here my whole life and have really seen a dramatic change in this amazing city.