The wallpaper is only in the kitchen, but yeah... it's been there for like 25 years so it's nasty :-)

The missed rent on 18 months would have been enough to pay for 1 kitchen or a couple of bathrooms.Fire people quicker.All in all, the market bailed me out and I paid tuition to get the best hands on training possible. 

I even have little signs up telling them how to use the washing machine (always leave the door open to prevent mildew) and dryer (always clean the lint filter) and kitchen sink (no FOGs, no coffee grounds) because I can get away with it renting to kids.Same kid just put a hole through the door with the doorstop.

I am looking at a cash only deal to fix & flip.The house is listed for $325,000 (4 bed 2 bath 1500 sq ft)  The neighborhood I believe could support a case for $550-600 all fixed up.The house right next to it sold for $490 (3 bed 2 bath 1300 sq ft) In a document I received from the realtor it discloses there was water damage to the kitchen area. 

I wouldn't throw your idea out the window yet.

it's just a fancier window unit. 

Family has made all all the mortgage payments in the meantime, and incremental improvements to the property over time (added back deck with ramp, double paned windows to all bedrooms and living room).

Hi Ting,I've had Pest Control companies that layed down a DMZ of sorts outside the buildings.Fire ants, ants, and a lot of other crawlies seem to stay away from the DMZ area--keeping them out of the house.I've had them do it in the pouring rain and on nice days.Maybe they do something like that in your area.If it's a problem, you can scheduled ongoing service for it--where they will come out and re-apply.Or you could pass the info on to the renter--it's less costly then her hiring an attorney (unless she is govt subsidized and gets free attorneys via legal aid).They also do a building inspection inside and out--looking for entry points that need to be "Repaired", but ants get in through the smallest cracks.If you have a slab foundation, they may be under the slab and coming through a crack in it--exterminators can handle that.One or two phone calls will get you a quick price, and being there when it happens to take notes on where the tech says to repair to prevent other insects coming in might be a smart move.I've seen long lines of ants outdoors coming up a metal handrail to an apartment and going into a tiny space at the corner of a window and into the apartment. 

Lived in the house while updated the kitchen and windows, entrance and garage door.

Top floor tenant in an up/down duplex clogs kitchen drain. 200 to clear the drain and 700 to repair the ceiling of the unit below.