So once I have no friends, and focus on self improvement it's easier to find better friends.  

Whatever you can get to make yourself feel safer in your future rent payments.If you will consistently issue 7-day default letters for all of your tenants when they are late, you will see timely rent payments improve. 

All of those would greatly improve your soft costs. 

So here's the combined numbers for both props on a monthly basis.Purchase Price For both Properties: $120,000Gross Income (both properties): $5,965Gross Effective Income (10% Vacancy rate): $5,368.50 Net Operating Expenses: $2741.31- Cable - $50 (it's gerry rigged)- Water - $435- Electricity - $450 (3 months during the summer its $800 a month)- Dumpster Fee - $185- Fire Insurance - $41- Property Mngmt - 7% (I will use professional management)- Taxes: $363.34- Maintenance: $800Net Operating Income: $2,627.19Capital Improvements: $25,000 (roof, foundation, paint, flooring)The owner combines all expenses for both properties because they are side by side.

I see the growing potential in the rental properties around the campus area, especially since multiple deals have been made by Lex Wexner himself to improve the streets close to OSU.

Deferred maintenance or capital improvements?

I know here in California there are houses that are designed for this  purpose but there is usually a staff member that stays there.

Another lawyer ***** that I the displeasure of closing with, she chose a time for closing one day, and when I arrived, she was at lunch, she berated the staff in front of me for stupid stuff, really struggled with the power of attorney we have used for years (made by another local lawyer) and ended up writing her own power of attorney - That she wouldn't even let us keep hold of???

This is a cash or terms business.One tool is not enough.Situation - Free and clear pretty house ---> installment sale - private mortgage, low down, buy and hold or resell.Situation - no equity pretty house ---> sub2 or wrap or lease option assignment, exit rent out or lease 2 own or resellSituation - 20% equity pretty house ---> list it if licensed, sub2 plus noteSituation - 40% equity ugly house ---> wholesale flip or JV and buy it or JV with the seller (buy sub2 + note, own it, jv agreement, improve it with private money, list it, resell it, pay off former owner and private lender, make JV fee of 5% +)There are other tools but that is enough to get a strain on your brain. :)And just because you understand those tools, does nt mean you can persuade the seller to use one of them.Cash or terms. 

The last improvement or worthwhile repair was in 1997, The uncle really let it go…Linval- Your right about the family part, I didn’t want to type to much in the initial post, but I keep going back to the numbers because the money that the in-laws get from the sale will get the 3 brothers who are essentially squatting in the other property to move out.