If it's an older building, with aging systems, like @Owen Dashner pointed out, you'll have even more expenses maintaining everythingInsurance Estimate at $720/year: if you really can insure an 8-plex for $720/year, please PM me because I'd really want to know the carrier.

Considering your age and the fact you have a downpayment already you can become successful in real estate as soon as you get and maintain a job.

I agree that charging each landlord $250 to maintain this list is excessive.

I think this could have a fairly large impact as people have gotten used to 4-5 percent interest.

Plus, how is a tenant going to view the fairness of paying half the water bill, when there's no way to prove they used half of the water. 

You have to be careful as a landlord to be in compliance with all current fair housing practices.

Next time you are there, check to see if the Pergo is buckling/peaking a bit at the seams--that's a sign of moisture.If this is to be a rental, I'd completely rule out carpeting and look at vinyl planking--it's water proof, and easy to maintain and repair. 

They both insist that there are creative ways to structure this deal so that me and my mother can LEGALLY , and secured by CONRACT, be able to collect the net proceeds, and split it 50/50 as her and I agreed from the start.One of the proposed arrangements I researched and sought legal consul for, and am fairly certain would in fact still be an act of fraud.A broker brought in an investor who proposed the idea of purchasing the Mortgage Note, and giving us the difference, secured of course in advance by a contract where we would agree to forfeit the Security(house) once the note was purchased. 

Properties are cheaper in Birmingham and cash flow a little higher than other markets due to low property taxes, cost of living, and cost to repair/maintain.

And by favorites, I mean fair housing violations.