She really wants to buy a house one day and she understands she needs to get her debt under control.  

I firmly believe in controlling the paperwork and filling these in yourself.

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.Download BP’s newest book here some good due diligence in Chapter 10.

Thanks @Wesley Williams for the intro@Jonathan Smith there's a lot you can do with just a little marketing.You could call the basement an "office" or a "den" and that's something you could market for higher rent.Also, I've written in detail about an "Inn Keeper" profit center where the landlord joint ventures with the tenant to host Airbnb/VRBO guests. 

My dad lives nearby though and is interested in real estate as well so he would be my boots on the ground.Here are their numbers:Rent: 14,250.00 monthTaxes: 15,300 yearInsurance: 6,800 yearManagement: 8%Maintenance: 13,000 yearUtilities: 3,600 year (they say tenant pays utilities so not sure what this is)Lawn: 900 yearPest Control: 600 yearLegal: 600 yearVacancy: 10%I also assumed 5% for Cap Ex… not sure if that is a good number?

In Oakland, you may know that owner-occupied duplexes or triplexes are no longer subject to rent control after you've lived there for a year (for the period in which you live there).

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.

This process of assigning an appraiser and how quickly they come is out of our control.

Operating expenses include utility, payroll, landscaping, pest control, taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance to name a fewThese are expenses, different from capital expenditures such as fridges hot water heaters and flooring.