Owner occ developments there is no value associated to the income approach so these props generally speaking will appreciate a lot more as the neighborhoods are much more desirable. builders the last thing they want to do is sell to investors if they are creating owner occupied communities.. rentals degrade the neighborhood and they will be sabotaging their own values to allow a bunch of investors to buy and rent out in their communities.So when you buy new builds keep in mind if its a build to rent community they will NOT appreciate like owner occupied neighborhoods.. might be best to find something already 3 to 5 years old where the stigma of renters dies down.. that would be best to protect your investment.

I don't have a good understanding of your desires or what you are seeking.  

Desirable first ring city neighborhood. 

If property is done right even in todays market you can hit 1% rule and attract very desirable college students.

We use Yardi for our accounting, which leaves much to be desired at times, but we have spent a lot of time working on our financials to get them to look the way we want.

While the property's location was desirable, it was evident that the house had been neglected for several years.

Unless you have time, desire and knowledge, hiring a property manager sounds like the right option.

That also plays a major role in what to do. end of day stocks and real estate over time provide the same return on average - so it is really based on the individual, their experience and desire Thank you. 

Still has lots of belongings (including a boat) in a large shed on the property... could imply intention to move back, or a desire to not have to deal with it and possible interest in having help getting rid of all this stuff3.

I get the desire to own outside of Chicago proper, but instead of going to another state altogether, why not invest in one of the burbs?