Obviously geographically the risk of a major earthquake is real with the New Madrid fault being close by.

Are you able to close the transaction (have enough money (and/or credit) ?

Closing in a few weeks or less@Ben Fernandez So, I assume you're buying between $100k-$150k with $50k-$100k in rehab?

My recommendation would be somewhere close by so you can manage it yourself.

Then after closing I will give him the number that I was thinking for the rehab.  

Closing on the duplex first and then finding a single-family rental works well. 

long term buy and hold is my strategy and i wanted a location that was close enough to DT Houston so it would be in a desirable location in terms of work/school.

We knew it was a risk and would be wasted money if the sale did not close.

For a bathroom or kitchenette, the biggest factor is plumbing...if a water line is close, your in the money,  if not, costs jump.Best approach for now?

Even at $110k I think you are pushing it as if you were to get a loan for $150k say your holding costs for that loan and closing costs could be $20k+, then you have selling costs of say 8% which is another $16k.