They owe back taxes(3500) and I'm sure they do not have the funds to make repairs.

Hello all, we are very green in understanding tax strategies for STRs and we're trying to understand how/what STR tax deductions can be captured for primary residences. 

You want to make sure the mechanicals are all new and that the taxes have been reassessed and are valid.

I would recommend reaching out to the county tax commissioner or treasurer for guidance on the tax sale guidelines as they may vary by county.

@Corbin HiblerYou can check with the city to see if they have programs where it gets rolled into the tax bill.

@Rufino MendiolaIf Illinois doesn't fit your investment criteria then I'd go with a market that has strong population/job growth, landlord friendly, low property taxes and high rent to price ratios.

This means it should cover all your expenses including mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and setting aside a portion for reserves to cover vacancies, capex, etc.If you can put down 10% and cover everything, go for it.

We are choosing new build because A) our family 4 has a certain size demand B)  the price-quality ratio doesn't seem to make sense when considering a preexisting home C) with interest rates being at near 8% with preexisting homes, builders are offering 5.99% interest rates and the exact home we are looking at is about $75K discounted because it's a spec home and the builder doesn't want to pay taxes on it.So, live in it for 5-6 years hopefully rent it out with a fully finished basement for potentially $4,200 in 5-6 years.

I happen to know that postal delivery people scan all items prior to leaving the post office, and not when they actually delivery the item.

Low taxes, landlord friendly, above average appreciation, and limited new construction.