No realtor has the power to make a bad deal look good.You may find if you wait and resubmit offers on properties that have not sold, they may accept it the second time around. 

I have all daughters and my oldest is 9, she knows how to do baseboards, trim, tile, and use power tools.

I have a similar issue where one tenant tends to leave lights on 24/7 in rooms they're not using, and I'm paying the electricity bill.

Stephen, this is literally a copy/paste from an email I sent one of my partners recently about a duplex we were analyzing (which had 16,200 gross income):1500 - insurance  500 - landcaping & snow removal1620 - 10%management1620 - 10% of gross inc for repairs/maint3252 - $22.95 per 1000 in East Prov (142K assessment)  200 - electric  (common)  800 - water  800 - sewer  405 - 5%misc/turnover/screening/leadtests/etc.It was a quick email so I might have missed some items, but there are some #s for you.Also it's important to distinguish between "repairs when you buy it that you have to do to make it rentable" vs.

(I have many properties, and may have more bargain power).Posting on Craiglist costs nothing.  

Their name changed from Tenants Union of Seattle to Tenants Union of Washington State, a reflection of their new focus.http://www.tenantsunion.org/en The Washington Rental Owners Association has the most powerful lobby in favor of landlords.

I use Coho Electric a fair amount but not sure they fully meet your small shop criteria.  

. $225-275/room per student)Here are some of the financials - Ask: 520kMonthly gross rent: $5000Property taxes: 7kInsurance: 2.5k (for me)Gas & electric: 3.5kWater: 1.5kRents should be at least $6400/month or $7200 depending, (possibly higher?) 

The buying power of your capital is much higher when leveraged with debt.

The debt I accrued in that year was using credit cards for personal things like gas, paying electric bills, grocery shopping, paying the insurance and taxes on the investments as well as small expenses with my kids.