Right now I am contemplating moving into SFR deals, simply because they produce more cash flow per unit and assuming I want to retire off my portfolio someday, I'll need less SFR's as opposed to condo's to reach my income goals.

So a tradesman might earn 1/3 less working retail but he was working a full 40 hours a week, as opposed to losing time between jobs and weather delays.When HD hired a CEO from GE (back in '00 IIRC) he looked at payroll and said to cut it, so today 1/2 the people in our HD could just as well be working as greeters at Wal-Mart.It's often not the "big things" where they get you.

I would want the tenant out so I could get the rodent problem under control and get a full scope of the termite damage.That is what I would be concerned with as well as your re-tenant and lost rent costs until you rent the unit out again.Since you own a duplex they have shared walls.You have to make sure the other tenant is clean or the pest control service will make ZERO DIFFERENCE.The reason is even if you put poison down but food is available the pest will leave the poison and eat the food.You have to close off all exterior gaps of the building,keep tree branches away from critters getting in,keep trash in trash cans and away from the building for pick up,clean unit top to bottom,pull out stove and fridge in kitchen and degrease and sanitize.After years of recycling tenants you would not believe what builds up back there that attracts and breeds pests.Good Luck

one of their standard requirements is to paint all exterior gas piping...their reason - to prevent rust. so let me get this straight. it has not rusted for 60 years, but now all of a sudden it will rust. lolat least that does not require a permit. :)

Any contractor who has a good head on his shoulders does not need to waste his time with someone who is not serious enough to put up some $$ as opposed to just empty promises.

Would this be profitable as opposed to doing the "typical" rehab or is this wishful thinking on my part?

Then go offline, but look into endorsement/fusion marketing as opposed to the traditional "stuff" out there. 

Though I'm not opposed to the lenders knowing each other, it doesn't seem like one more hurdle for putting together a deal.  

Also, what do people think about hiring an agent to place tenants in your properties as opposed to doing the marketing yourself?

I've had to add exterior "escape" stairs to comply in a few situations.