Townhomes can actually give you good bang for your buck as there are some available in the northland with low HOAs and could keep some of your general maintenance down.

Furthermore, you and disqualified parties cannot live in or use any of these properties, nor can you do any of the maintenance, upkeep or construction work on them.  

People routinely try to rent places they cannot afford, so if they need to spend $400 extra each month for your house, ask them where that money comes from. 

We've never seen him on sight, and when we knock on the door (maintenance, etc.) he's never there.

:$65k = CMA$30k = Contractor Quote for Rent Ready Repairs$32k = Option Sales Price$5k = Down Payment for Option$1,200 = CMA Market Rent Rate$600 = Monthly Lease Payment11.6% = Annual Cap Rate (Vacancy & Maintenance NOT included)20.5% = Annual Cash-On-Cash Return

The only way I can see these landlords around me making money is if they have owned the property for years before the prices inflated.The reason I've been thinking about this is because a 2 family a few down from mine has been lived in by a hoarder for the last 50 years, and no maintenance has been done to the property in this time.

Here are the numbers:Gross Rent: $84,768Expenses: $32,226Repairs and Maintenance: $3000Utilities: $11,359, Taxes: $6,570Insurance: $4,345Vacancy: $4,410Reserves: $2,543Asking Price: They plan on listing it at $599,900 in the spring, however, I have negotiated them down to $500,000.

The thing with buying vacant land is that there are not many ways to make a cashflow, and the lot may require routine mowing if it is in the city.

Since it notes new roof - electrical - cabinets etc you may have lower maintenance and capex costs but then you are risking it being cash positive.

Many in my generation are fearful of home buying until they are making big bucks because they lack knowledge and confidence with regard to basic home maintenance!