My business side says this property will fund a decent chunk of my retirement and allow me to do a little gardening in the meantime.  

Agents throw around terms like English Basement, In-Law Suite, Garden Unit, but the most fitting name is Illegal Unit. 2-Flats are zoned for occupancy of 2 units, and the basement is not a legal unit.

(via HOA funds) a park, a community garden (and chicken yard?

So lets be serious now... talking about being downtown, where the state put a one mile radius around the isolated communities where they are able to preserve the neighborhoods, does not represent what makes up most of the detroit experience of the hoods and ghettos. anywhere in the world has its good areas and its bad areas. but detroit has more bad areas than most.And although I brought up downtown as an example of where things are picking up, I am not trying to say that is the only area of the city that is not a warzone.Indian Village, Palmer Woods, Boston Edison are all amazing neighborhoods.John Berry, Sherwood Forest, University District and Rosedale Gardens are pretty damn decent.East English Village, West Village, Corktown and Mexican town are respectable places.Yes, there are more Brightmoors and Burbanks than good areas, but that does not mean the entire city is lost and that we should just wall it up and hope that Detroiters don't move into our suburban neighborhoods.

@Lee G. and @Ian Checketts the property is located in Garden City less than a block from the river (but not in the flood plain) next to the waterfront district.

Jonathan Orr,if you have the investment money to take on big projects I would talk to the city of Garden Grove planning office about their numerous redevelopment opportunities on Harbor Blvd between Orangewood Ave and Garden Grove Blvd.They just built a massive resort there called Great Wolf Lodge and it desperately needs neighbors like new restaurants,shopping,and more hotels to fill up the space between it and Chapman Ave.They have everything you need plus tax incentives to make it worth investing in the new south end of the Disneyland resort area.

They are garden units in a 16 unit building that only has 4 owner occupants.

Or partner up with an agent that has access to the Garden State MLS.Steve

Also, this "garden" or "in law suite" has 9 foot ceilings and is extremely livable but can I legally rent it if it's not a legal unit?

@Sean Blanton - you are right about the illegal gardens here in Chicago.