It would cost a lot to get the planning approval and do a complete renovation of the 2 units.Can anyone suggest what would be my options at this point?

I look forward to learning everything there is to gaining financial freedom and becoming an investor. 

My father-in-law told me he plans to sell his 6 unit condo building ASAP so he can "retire" from being a landlord.

If your entity has several years of operating history and good and reliable financials, you may be able to find something. 

PM's are there to follow YOUR plan. 

Your taxes are none of the ex wife's business and this would seem to address your concerns.I would also put her on notice that future requests for financial discovery will be two-way and if a discrepancy is seen in the other direction you will seek support from her.

@Isaac Terry Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

Hi David Oh-You asked about a profit sharing bonus for property managers to give them an ownership mindset and incentivize them to align with your goals for quality property management.I love this idea.While I do not have a formal profit sharing plan, I always like to recognize the property management company with gift cards to the operators and the people within the property management company I have regular contact with that help keep the property running well and keeping costs down.Related to this, a handwritten thank you card to the same people periodically goes a long way.I also like to do the same for the tenants that have been paying rent on time.To your success!

Buy box: Location: Approx. 30 min drive to Boston Heights, for workNeighborhoods: Decent walkability score - not far from shops/restaurants/trendy neighborhoodsIdeal tenants: Close to hospitals/universities/schools for professionals/students/familiesBudget: $175-250K - Buying w/conventional loan, 5% down/ approx 20K reno.Property type: MFH 2-4 units - preferably side-by-side, with a yard we can fence for our dogUnits: 3+/1+ - better if 1.5/2 bath per unitTimeline: Plan to live there for 2 years, but possibly only 1 year if we find another investment opportunityGoal: Focus on appreciation - would like to see cash flow in year 2-3 (the year we move out), including overhead (Vacancies, Maintenance, Utilities) and budgeting in PM if eventually we don't manage ourselvesValue add: Opportunity for some forced appreciation, but not a full reno - cosmetic upgrades and updating kitchens/baths while we live in one unit.

Hi I am from Toronto, Canada and planning to buy investment property in the USA.