When you zoom out and look at the big picture every rental property needs a total gut rehab every 30-50 years at about $50-$80 per square foot, which will long term wipe out all your cash flow and then some if you don't have corresponding appreciation to offset.I have been investing in Milwaukee for 15 years and it took me a while to see this pattern.

Or are there other options involving financing that will help me get my foot in the door sooner?

I invest exclusively overseas as I can get better returns than at home in the right places but I wouldn't touch Thailand with a 10-foot pole, unless it's for lifestyle.

The purchase price of this three bedroom two bath 2100 square foot home is $230,000.

I don't post here often, but I do like what Henry Clark had to say earlier about choosing properties that have been on the market for a LONG time.I used that strategy for a 1031 exchange from a small condo to a 6ish thousand square foot commercial office building (no experience).

Parked his truck on the side of the road, was on foot when he was shot in the back by a 15 yr old gangster with a lengthy rap sheet.

People think that they can cash in by suing them thar rich property owners.Regarding the amounts to insure, we just increased our rebuild value to $350 a square foot.

If you average permit filed price per square foot its about $135-$140 traditionally for the builders because they are adding basements.

Price per square foot for new construction varies based on location and finishes.

Ask around your gen contractors, what is the cost of cosmetic repair per sq foot in the area of your interest.