Maybe get my foot in the door.  

Seasoned investors normally have title and attorney that are familiar with this.I hope this information helps.

I normally find housing that needs a good amount of repairs which I use the winter months to get the majority done so that when spring comes you can get it rented ASAP.

Long-term, they could help the economy weaken at a faster pace than normal and bring about the onset of the next recession sooner than it naturally would occur by itself.  

Because when the attorney stands up and tells the judge that we have reached an agreement and the tenant tells the judge that they have indeed entered into this agreement, they can no longer file an appeal, which is the normal way that they would delay the eviction. 

The carpet while clean is a little mashed down but all normal "Wear and tear".

I just wanted to start on the right foot.

For the most part, I can see a fair 10% increase, that’s normal and in line with the market place.

do what all normal people do - teach him a lesson by posting evidence of his slum lording on social media. that will teach him! 

The "9" I came came up with is not a cap rate but a baseline for comparison.As for deferred maintenance, you can treat it many different ways but you are correct that it is typically a below the line number, it does not normally get factored in as a cap rate calculation other than to the extent it affects the denominator in the equation or such repairs would increase rents.