Rich, try one listing and make your own assessment.

And if so, what is your assessment of it?

You can assess this against tax records.

Property Characteristics: Gross Area: 3,381 Parking Type: Construction: WOOD Living Area: 2,949 Garage Area: Heat Type: FURNACE Tot Adj Area: Garage Capacity: Exterior wall: FRAME Above Grade: 2,949 Parking Spaces: Porch Type: OPEN SLAB Total Rooms: 14 Basement Area: 432 Patio Type: Bedrooms: 8 Finish Bsmnt Area: Pool: Bath(F/H): 5 / Basement Type: UNFINISHED Air Cond: Year Built / Eff: 1902 / 1924 Roof Type: Style: RANCH Fireplace: / Foundation: CONCRETE Quality: AVERAGE # of Stories: 1.00 Roof Material: COMPOSITION SHINGLE Condition: AVERAGE Other Improvements: Site Information: Zoning: BE Acres: 0.28 County Use: MULTI-UNITS(4-8) (1230) Flood Zone: X Lot Area: 12,068 State Use: Flood Panel: 0801031189F Lot Width/Depth: x Site Influence: Flood Panel Date: 12/19/2006 Res/Comm Units: 5 / Sewer Type: PUBLIC SERVICE Land Use: MULTI FAMILY 10 UNITS LESS Water Type: PUBLIC Tax Information: Total Value: $196,500 Assessed Year: 2010 Property Tax: $1,196.91 Land Value: $47,000 Improved %: 76% Tax Area: 2218 Improvement Value: $149,500 Tax Year: 2009 Tax Exemption: Total Taxable Value: Depending on what strategy I use to acquire the property will decide my exit strategy as far as financing.

You are right, a 'decent' score we take for granted.It still has to be assessed subjectively, for instance my girlfriend is a resident alien, so she has 0 established credit in the US.

In particular, is that issue one that will so directly impact the landlord's cash flow such as high and continuing special assessments, stuborness over minimal cosmetic issues (lawns, landscaping)?

3 to 4 years ago we had rampant fraud in Atlanta.They said they had rehabbed and sold junker 2/1's and 3/1's for 150k to 225k that were built in the 1940's and 1950's.I went to look at these junkers and man what a waste.The city of Atlanta is still having crazy assessments of 240k and yearly taxes of 4,000 !

Often it takes a little money though to get started in business and you will want to assess the risks involved.

The only state I know of that requires a walk-through is California, and even in California, the tenant is still responsible for damage discovered after they move out.It's impossible to assess all the damage in a house that is still filled with furniture.No landlord anywhere will allow you back inside to clean after you have turned the keys in.

If nothing else, I would be more than happy to help you understand the process and expectations as far as pricing, debt, risk assessment, etc.