In the past PVE has been in the "boon docks" of LA, the country, and as a result it mainly comprised of seniors.

The big if there is, if you can get a slice of contractor time or ship a rehab team to the city. 

:) Attn Marvin do you have any intern ships available??

I don't think shipping containers or any short-term rentals will work in this area.

Seems like the Pittsburgh ship has already started to set sail over the past couple years in my opinion with all the development happening in the city and house values/rents increasing a pretty good amount there.

Solution #1 - Austerity - it would eventually turn the ship around - but that's 5 or more years of under-consumption, increased savings and paying down debt.. living below our means - which means a sustained weak economy (high unemployment, demand destruction and a slow leak in asset prices).

ROI tough on those deals still but the market is continually rising and taking all the ships along.

Then the ship capsizes......

Don't worry if they're not "investor friendly" you're steering the ship mon!

Cash flow and rents will be more important.Potential rent: $1300-1400Repairs:Tricky to say, I need to get some better numbers and estimates from contractors, but there are very few in this town and are exorbitantly expensive, so we plan on some sweat equity, purchasing materials in the lower 48 and having a cargo container shipped up and repairing / updating at our leisure.Downstairs will need new carpet (about 400SF), other half of downstairs has Pergo, but we might re-do the whole floor as the Pergo is in the entryway, kitchen, and 1/2 bath, all high-wear and moist/damp places, and it's a few years old.Upstairs will need new carpet.