For reference: The current mortgage on the duplex with escrow and everything is $620 a month, the one side rents for $525 and the side I’m in I remodeled and would get $600 out of it.

I ask because from a real estate sales perspective, I only have access to the MLS datrabases that I operate in. I

:We had locks on our bedroom doors till a child accidentally locked himself in and the parents freaked and called the fire department who proceeded to smash the door in. I

The moment I walked in, I could tell it was a smoker's house.

My rule is you moved in and it was in X condition, they moved out and it was in Y condition beyond normal wear and tear.  

It's the type of thing that gives landlords a bad reputation and can create hardship for the tenants.2) Even if you could get it renovated for $20-35K to comparable condition to next door, $2,300/month for a $295K all-in is not a very good return, especially for Philadelphia, unless it's truly in an A class neighborhood.3) Under your scenario, you're not buying it with any equity in the property, you're all-in for market value if the ARV is indeed $295K.

@Carmen Graves which part of Chicago are you in? I

I really had no idea what I was doing going in - I thought I knew everything - in reality I knew nothing.

I figured once im a few properties in, I can begin to leverage everything out (property management, rehab, etc) but for now I am leaning towards handling everything myself.

I would never live it in. Is