If you don't have the time and need to gestimate, @Laureen Youngblood is spot on with her the prices she mentioned.I would say most of the exterior houses we paint in my area cost about $3,000 to $4000.

For my specific neighborhood in Manhattan, the minimum was $1520/month for 7% of the available impressions.  20% was $4,055/month, and the supposed "sweet spot" is 40% at $7,700/month.  

Who has experience on vacation rentals out in Colorado?  I'm a huge snowboarder and make an annual trip out west with my family and friends.  I'm sure I would make more of them if I had my very own vacation rental out...

DeannaUpen is spot on utilizing the VA benefit for a multi unit would really jump start your buy/hold strategy. 

The value is there and the first mortgage is low so I am also in a good spot there.

Is there even such a sweet spot?  

Almost all of the increase in real estate has been in the west.Spot The Outlier - Seattle Home Prices Go Vertical As Laundered Chinese Money Flows Inhttp://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-07-26/spot-outl...

There are opportunities everywhere, you just have to train your eyes to spot them, your brain and mouth to create them, and your arms and legs to execute them.Yes, your market is expensive, and for good reason ... there is high demand and perpetually limited supply of housing.

That makes a big difference to the deal and it puts you in a much better spot if it is the case.You can do a quick records search to see if there is an IRS/State/Local lien on the property to confirm (I wouldn't trust his say so on it at this point).If it's just an expected tax bill for a sale, he doesn't need you to do a 1031.  

After the tenants moved out, we noticed pretty extensive mold on both sides of the sliding glass door--wall and baseboard as well as the blinds and spots on the glass and frame.