The ones who are active in the local market should also be able to provide recommendations for contractors.

The owner also owns another duplex across the street.

Can the city just say "We don't want a rooming house on this street because it could negatively affect the neighborhood?"

I don't spend much time on Forums, but my nephew has recommended Biggerpockets to me as a real estate agent who would like to experiment more actively with investment.

The only problem is that you will now have a payment against it if you spend it (which you would on the down payment for property #2) and you will have difficulty (I think) refinancing property #1 in the future with a active HELOC on it.

Evenings and weekends is when there's the most activity in real estate.  

As of 11/24/2017 I do not know what the status of their current loan is or how behind it is, but looking for what options I would have as far as approach to buy the property pre foreclosure as they still actively live there and the property has been recently updated and in great shape as a turn key investment.

I am aware that the neighbor had the water shut off from the street because a pipe had burst in the basement one winter.

I am aware that the neighbor had the water shut off from the street because a pipe had burst in the basement one winter.

As of 11/24/2017 I do not know what the status of their current loan is or how behind it is, but looking for what options I would have as far as approach to buy the property pre foreclosure as they still actively live there and the property has been recently updated and in great shape as a turn key investment.