As for the basement - What about just dividing it up into 4 rooms (just use plywood) and make it "mini storage."

I will keep your advice fresh in my mind when negotiating comes around.

Perhaps some mobile homes, rent for storage (boats, trailers, etc) or perhaps something else?

Don't do rentals right now, except the commercial building I bought for our offices and storage space, it came with a tenant.

Apartment buildings, self storage etc. you can put systems in place where you look over the books online one or two times a month from pm company and that's it with the right size and scale.

We just looked at a place last weekend that has a really nice antique looking storage bench... we might have some arguments over that one if we buy the house.

Regardless, it is not something of which a fresh-faced real estate investor would be aware {unless s/he has a background in corporate finance}.

If I was fresh out of college without an awesome wife and two kids in the nest, I'd definitely do what you suggest here.

Realtor thought I was joking.It's not good for anything but a material storage yard for stuff that won't get hurt in a flood, and the building needs demolished to knock the property taxes down.I guess they are looking for a sucker, or maybe a guy that builds Arks in the mountains.

The influx of fresh faced college grads pouring into the city to fill positions in new tech firms, banks, auto industry and retail is also having an impact on the demographics.