With less experienced or just poor planning operators, it isn't uncommon that they spend years distributing all the cash out to the owners, and then the time comes for a multi million dollar refresh to maintain the hotel brand, and no one wants to cough up the money back into the entity.

I just purchased my first duplex (only SFHs in my portfolio so far) and it doesn't have the gas/water split.

Do you have a track record of purchasing and operating real estate on your own?

Quote from @Paul Whitehurst: Many will tell you to borrow money from Property A to purchase Property B, but that's known as over-leveraging and not recommended for a newer investor.

However, I don't like the fact that properties they will show me, they will have a financial interest in, because it could affect my purchase negatively. what are the pros and cons of going with an agent that requires dual agency vs. not?

Purchase price: $137,000 Cash invested: $90,000 Sale price: $285,000 This was a single family home in Bates Hendricks.

If you are looking to just calculate profitability, set how much profit you want to make then:ARV - Purchase Costs - Holding Costs - Selling Costs - Desired Profit - Rehab Budget (including contingency) = Maximum Allowable OfferIF you cannot calculate those numbers, a spreadsheet isn't going to help you. 

I have not every purchased property in Canada, but my wife is Canadian and I've seen some of the issues her family has had to deal with.  

Purchase price: $675,000 Cash invested: $250,000 Country estate with 2 houses.

Purchase price: $600,000 Cash invested: $30,000 Purchased single family home, finished basement making the property a duplex.