Due to the inherent characteristic of this type of siding to deteriorate if not properly maintained and the difficulty in detecting all damaged areas, a qualified siding installer should perform a more in-depth evaluation.

The Zillow doesn’t give my property any justice and the photos are old, we redid the flooring, paint and bed room sets on the third floor bed rooms and hallways, and basement has new LVT and paint and the bathroom was updated as well.

Cash flow is only one metric of performance of an investment.

Investors are better off losing the deal than getting into a situation where major repairs come as a surprise after the fact.Likewise, investors are ahead of the game when they do their due diligence on the contractors performing the rehab work.

California now has a pretty onerous brightline test of sorts after the Dynamex case last year in the CA supreme court.A hired worker will be considered to be an employee unless it can be shown the worker passes ALL of the following test:1) The worker is free from the directions and control of the hirer in connection with the performance of the work, both under the contract for the work and in fact;2) The worker performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity's business; and 3) The worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as the worked performed for the hiring entity.Note this is a lot more restrictive than the federal "questionnaire" for an employee vs IC determination. 

Performing as expected as a long term hold Lessons learned?

It sounds like you’re working on an investment strategy as of now and you’ll start to narrow in on your focus as you continue to gain insight and knowledge.If you’re looking to invest in a foreign market, having a trusted agent and property manager is crucial as is their network of trusted contractors and third-party vendors.

Maybe delay the education a couple of years and buy that duplex anyway... then maybe a second and a third. 

He did not perform appropriate due-diligence on these and/or maybe fell into the high-income Dr. mindset of "money is an easily renewable resource". 

The third was caught on camera.