If you don't know how deep the water is, you may get more than just your "feet wet".Third Lesson.Cheap and discount are not the same thing. 

Water, trash, internet, and fire wood make up the rest of the utility allocation.  

You are talking about a new water service line upgrade right?

Also, the water could have entered from other areas and traveled along a beam and exited the kitchen ceiling.

He was fresh out of college and nervous about his first investment in Omaha, of all places (my home base).

From talking to locals, there's a couple of issues than need to be addressed, some are the non-ecological practices that some of those developers have, unfortunately, our government profits from this investors and allows them to destroy manglers (which are the natural water purifying system of that area) dismantling hectares of mangroves and degraded the habitat of resident and migratory species burying animals alive.There's proof of fecal material floating beneath the city of Tulum, only 20% of the water is sent to the water treatment plant, there's no infrastructure for the exponential growth.The landfills in the middle of the jungle that is leaking hazardous pollutants into the freshwater system and that something that developers won't tell you.I love my country and it would be a disaster for everybody if this place ends up like some other great beaches around the world, that are completely ruined by greedy investors not following the rules.There's no urban or comprehensive master plan, and one of the risks is that Tulum will be like Playa del Carmen is today, overgrown and with environmental devastation.I will advise doing a lot of research before getting something in Tulum, different country, different rules, and practices.

With fresh paint throughout inside and out, brand-new roof, dual HVAC systems, updated water heater, stainless steel appliances, lighting fixtures, outlets, countertops, and PEX plumbing just to name a few.

Another old buddy in San Antonio picked up a modest fourplex a few years back, and while it never turned into a headline-worthy success, those steady rent checks stacked up over time as local employers brought in fresh workers.

We are local contractors in the area looking to get our feet wet in the real estate investing waters.

So at the end of the 5 years, you are just treading water with the lower price point home, while you made headway with the other one.