@Corby Goade Actually they can be a good thing.....reg.s keep the neighborhood up, no rv's, junk cars, dump trucks, landscape maintenance requirements, etc.

Even with a turnkey it will probably involve some basics like cutting grass, shoveling snow, maintaining landscaping, removing clogs in plumbing, fixing doors that stick or blinds that stop working.  

Find a planner that has worked in that city before or in Pasadena or Monterrey Park as they all function the same way...eg landscape sprinklers required but in LA are not.

I put 30 of the 50 back into the house (new kitchen, roof, patio, fence, landscaping) and I still have about 20k in the bank.

Paint Int/extMajor demo/trashUpdate both baths, including cutting into slab in basement in order to set the tub to floor levelCut in a sliding door in basement great roomNew kitchen, knock down wall to open upLightingnew Flooring: laminate planks, vinyl, tile baths, carpet, etcMajor landscaping in the back yard: we had no idea there was a 30x20 foot cement patio back there, I didn't include the pics, but it was so over grown with stuff, we never saw it when we bought it.All other basic cosmetic stuff that you do to make a new house: door, trim, etc.TOTAL REHAB Costs: Roughly $46,000The unfortunate and fortunate part of this project was that I didn't have any freed up contractors to work on the project when I purchased it. 

In any case, with the changing landscape for tax lien strategies I think even the "tax lien lady" is branching out into other strategies and I can't give you any feedback on those.

I don't allow them to exceed 3% (usually lower) of the strike price and I put them towards closing costs and other non-repair items like landscape allowances.  

Many real estate professionals observe that demand for new construction has exceeded supply for a while.A Changing LandscapeUrbanization has changed city landscapes many ways.

talk to contractor, landscapers, the mailman, ups drivers and anyone else that will listen.

We did a gut renovation including new bathrooms, kitchens, roof, plumbing, electrical, siding, landscaping and energy upgrades like energy star fixtures, natural gas HVAC, insulation, windows, etc.