I'm an engineer in the commercial construction industry moving from Boston to CT in 6 weeks and want to start investing. 

Carpet in bedrooms and office, engineered hardwood in the living area and tile in the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry room area.

I use Zillow as my primary real estate search engine and comping tool and it works as long as you know its limitations.

Only ONE source just doesn't cut it... to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.Here's the ways that I have NEVER used:Bandit SignsYellow LetterBillboardTVRadioYou TubeCraigslistPostletswholesalerbird dogobituariesdivorce noticeslandlord tenant court casespartition suitadverse possessioneminent domainany firearmsmarriageinheritance (I bought property that people inherited, but I never inherited any property.)game showlottery winninggambling proceedsbriberylyingcheatingstealingsquattingturn key providerbought from relativegiven by relativewedding presentI have bought property from the following:US Marshall ServiceVAHUDState Highway DepartmentHoarder's estateProbateSheriff SaleGovernment Tax SalesThird Party Tax SalesWord of MouthLetter solicitationCo-workersNeighborsVerbal auctionsSealed Bid auctionsPublic SalesBank REOsRelocation CompanyArsonist in prison for burning down his own houseMurderer in prison for killing his wifePerson who needed bail moneyMLSPerson owner occupying a vacant lotPerson living in a garagePerson with multi-million dollar IRS lien (happened twice different people)title problemsflood zone propertyseptic problems & failed perk testsNewspaper wanted adSeller who wanted to do something that zoning did not permitLandlocked propertyCode violationsProperty encroached about 50% by neighbor.Left over lots in subdivisionUnfinished subdivisionLife EstateAcquired lead from attorney, engineer, government official

The general rule of thumb for rentals is over-engineer the remodel.

If he tells you that you may need a structural engineer it may be a bigger unknown .not seeing it sounds like one or a few of the joist are damaged. if that is the case it can be repaired in a day a so with sissor the joist or install new joist to put the load back on the joist that is transferred.Jeremy said termite could be but one look will tell you what is going on if so you treat it and do the same thing if the damage is not to bad.

Frames cannot be penetrated by search engine spiders, so any content (text) will not be used for organic optimization, whereas text contained in tables, can.

@Brian L. the numbers is an engineering thing.

Not sure about separation of rafters, get an engineer to inspect, probably not a big deal since house built 30 years ago with no problems with it.

I learned about the property via a tax sale investor who had it on his radar screen and wanted to engineer a plan to buy as a pre-probate.Odds are you'll hear from someone in time.