I have never been charged extra for any type of rent collection or anything associated with going to my unit for any reason.I do think they inflate costs of routine maintenance, which is one reason I don't care for them.

I could see a lot of entry level folks working in those hospitals/universities being forced to go South due to rising rents in West Philly (by 30th Street and beyond) so Grays Ferry would be the natural progression to remain close and have reasonable rents.

Areas that are on the rise.

Check your local codes on stair rise and tread depth, but it might be nice to put one step between the patio and the bottom of the door. 

Hard money is very available right now, because of the glut of cash looking for an investment, however, expecting the cost of hard money to be offset by rising property values is a very foolish expectation, given that there is no guarantee of where the economy is going and whether we could have another recession and dip in property values.

Historically, appreciation has roughly tracked inflation.

It would almost have to be a flash food like you see in the desert and even then it is not ever expected to rise to the level of the actual habitable part of the building, but at the least I am covered.

They didn't experience the big run-up in prices when the bubble inflated, so they didn't get gum all over their faces when it popped.

I sold a lot of inventory into the rise but I wish I sold all of it.

You can find the best deal ever but if your contractor is working with only himself in mind then expenses can rise through the ceiling especially when you put value on your time.