Option 1.Buy a 2 family (in pretty good shape) for $345,000 (will be appraised at around $375,000) in a great town with excellent schools and a great neighborhood, rent the bottom unit out (1200/mo) and pay the difference (which is a little less than I am currently paying in rent)or Buy a foreclosed single family home that needs a lot of work, mostly aesthetics, nothing major (I run a contracting business on the side, so labor is pretty cheap for me)for $300,000, which will most likely be around the upper $400Ks-low $500Ks when I'm done with it.

@Ashley Womack HOA's are a huge source of pain and frustration, although their intent is usually good (maintaining minimum standard of upkeep, common area maintenance and aesthetics of a neighborhood).

Aesthetically and if everything else was equal, I'd lean towards a rental but if the numbers work it could be a flip.

It's just the way aesthetics cycle.

I'm going for functionality before aesthetics, those will come later.

We have looked into building and outfitting homes with a Universal Design Aspect (wider doorways, stepless entry/showers, grab bars) all of which can be very aesthetically appealing to the eyes now days with the new manufacturers available.

Anything aesthetic is always last thin on my mind.

At this point he had done most of the aesthetic work interior and exterior, but had not finished the interior, or the HVAC, electrical, appliance and kitchen installation, bathrooms, etc.

My floor guy sands and poly's my 3/1 cottages for about $600 with him providing all the materials, and it always looks great.Love solid wood floors, can't beat the combination of aesthetics and durability.

Despite misconceptions based on their aesthetic tastes, hipsters tend to be well educated and often have liberal arts degrees, or degrees in maths and sciences, which also require certain creative analytical thinking abilities."