Nothing wrong with it, but that strategy wont work for me, i.e. buying several properties at that price point and managing them, and their tenants, and being impacted by their tenants lack of job stability, etc.I can probably stomach one sizable issue, than deal with many smaller issues together.

@Joe Homs, thanks for the heads up, unfortunately tonight wont work, but would welcome an opportunity to connect in the future.  

This place was abandoned, and destroyed. 

Is it too risky going forward and having the building dept. possibly destroy me financially?  

Depending upon your investment goals, note investing can also be a great way to acquire the physical real estate for well below market value, though this option isn’t for everyone as many people associate owning rental properties with the common headaches of toilets, trash and tenants.You can also run into a variety of headaches from borrowers, to lawyers, to destroyed properties.

The seller wont do seller financing, so if I want this, I have to be very CREATIVE, find a no/little money down option, or other financing.The duplex is small, in a single family home area, total house sq footage is about 1050.  

One lady wanted to 1031 one property to another, getting ready for retirement, and now have to spend her retirement years working, with a lifetime of savings destroyed in one scoop.I looked into using 1031 intermediaries a while back, and never realized these folks are not bonded.

@Joseph ShererUnderstood, having a property manager helps you when trying to have multiple properties, wont really benefit as much with just one.

See the real estate wont outpace inflation thread.

I looked at a place in Pittsburgh decent neighborhood seemed to be a pretty good wholesale deal listed at 29900 from pic's when I got there probably a few squatters living there at the time destroyed a lot mostly cosmetic told wholesaler would not be interested in the property at that price in that condition offered 20000 he responded if I can renegotiate I might get 21 or 22 thousand I told him 20000 is my number and he assured me squatters would not be an issue 2 weeks go by he calls yesterday and tells me I can have it for 20000 I go back over to property only to see that there have been squatters in the house also 2 windows broken that were not broken before house is dirtier than before and a slight bit of more damage than before I give him a call told him I offered the price I felt comfortable with based on the condition of what the property was in.