It's pretty scary in some parts of Detroit, especially if you are not a local. sorry, thats just ********. the biggest risk is poor property management and a bad area leaves you a gutted shell after someone has removed your hvac and copper.

This house had copper lines throughout except for the last 4" of pipe stubbed out through the wall.  

Hoping to find investor to flip some of these cheep homes.Im a electrician with 15 years been doing everything for 4yrs.Electric -done everything from service updates total rewires add outlets lights fans low voltage phone thermostat.( Anthony "Monk" Laurenza) electrical inspector told me to use him as a referencePlumbing- total replumbed houses add baths repairs replaced old cast iron drains used pex copper pvc repair and added gas pipe black pipe and gastight.repair/replace hotwater tanks both gas and electric.Drywall/finishing-repair drywall or plaster total guts went over old plaster textured ceilings.Trouble shooting and repairing furnaces/boilers-replaced furnaces with 90+, trouble shoot and repair pressure switch gas valves rollouts computers igniters .Paint-good at cutting in rolling (repair holes and cracks using tape mud 20min mud caulk)Windows/doors-repairing cutting glass and glazing replacing .replacing/repairing doors interior/ exterior.Also been doing maintenance on 30+ rentals for 2yearsNot much carpet, roofing,siding.Thank you, Travis [email protected]

Water know can get to a point where it will cause cracks in the copper pipe welds over time.

We followed the 70% rule ($90,000 x .7 = $63,000) deducted the estimated repairs and put in the offer of $30,000.Here is how the house was:My original plan was to update the windows and all the plumbing, It had various updating through the years and was a mess of black pipe, copper and pvc.   

We had an SFR that had the copper pipes stolen a few days before the tenants were going to move in.

Sometimes we're all penny wise and pound foolish.

Watch every penny going out...as you may be doing already, and find alternatives to these costs.

Keep your eyes on every penny and should be fine.

In my opinion they are being penny wise pound foolish.The best deals are when there is a problem you can solve.The property in my example I purchased in 2000.