I was able to pay my mortgage  off when my mortgage loan when it was about 10 years old with a Home Improvement loan at that time for 1.99% I have learned recently that the Bankers are trained to withhold anything that might be considered negative from you. 

I’d Improve it by maybe ten grand to get it decent and over time you can accumulate cash flow if you hold it long enough . it will usually rent well if it’s in a poor area .

Access is always an important factor too. 

She didn't make any of these requests prior to her signing the contract, after the contract, she brought her sister in law, her daughter, and everyone else there was giving her advice as to how to "improve" the apartment. 

They also might get nervous about the access to all that open credit (if you keep it open)....

I’m currently looking in Mobile to buy, just because of access to limited capital.

Did you know you can add value to your properties by installing Solar.  I am helping investors with $0 down, $0 out of pocket Solar on their properties to increase the value of their properties for when you sell, flip...

Regular landscaping/yard care (mowing, edging, trimming, fertilizer, weed control) will be provided by ____(check one)____ [   ] Landlord  [   ]  Tenant .For all Tenants:a.Tenant agrees to keep yards, walkways, patios and decks clear and to keep premises free of junk and debris.b.Tenant accepts liability for all landscape damage and/or replacement of such, if caused by neglect, abuse or lack of water.c.Tenant may plant the beds adjacent to their dwelling to their liking, but only with those plants that are of appropriate size and type for the beds.All plants brought or caused to be brought to the property by Tenant will be cared for by Tenant.d.Tenant agrees not to cut or prune trees, hedges and shrubs.This will be Landlord’s responsibility.e.Tenant agrees to properly dispose of all plant debris and agrees to not leave such on the property.f.Landlord will consider special Tenant requests for planting and removal of plants, shrubbery and trees, but reserves the right to determine the make-up of the landscaping.g.Tenant agrees not to grow marijuana on the premises, indoors or outdoors.For Tenants of single family homes only: a.Tenant agrees to mow, water, and keep the grass, lawn, flowers and shrubbery thereon in good order and condition, applying fertilizers and weed retardant as needed. b.If Tenant fails to keep the landscaping in good order and to follow these guidelines, Landlord reserves the right to hire a landscaping service at Tenant’s expense (after a 10-day notice to perform covenant).c.Landlord reserves the right to restore the landscaping to its initial condition, as it was at the time Tenant began occupancy, or if improved during Tenant’s occupancy, to the level of such improvement.

I finally had enough capital for a down payment on a duplex in Baltimore County (based on the prices I had been eye-balling for the past few years) but they all seem to have very recently gone up in price about 25-35% in the areas I had planned to target, so I'm having a hard time moving forward with finding a property to purchase.I work in Baltimore City and have seen various areas improve over the past few years.

The basement is accessible from the bottom unit as it is, I would just need to frame and sheetrock the garage access from the basement so it doesn’t abut a bedroom in order to cover my bases (I believe).