This includes assessments for issues such as lead-based paint, asbestos, mold, or soil contamination.

@Adam Shindler I have to say I never consider Real Estate truly passive income because there is always maintenance, tenants or property management companies that you have to take some action with whether it be forty hours a week or a year.As oppose to true Passive income like placing money in a interest bearing account and receiving income off of that.  

The security deposit of the prior tenants should have no bearing on the repairs you need to make to put the property in good condition. 

Originally posted by @Bob B.:"Early

We also knocked down the wall between the living room and the kitchen which ended up being a load bearing wall so we installed a nice beam which really made added to the look.

Gonzalez - To be honest I wish the bears wouldn't leave Chicago and solider field but hopefully, the new place will be awesome and bring us some much-needed help lolThat's actually probably not a bad idea to do an Airbnb and get in before everyone else but I would just say rules can always change so make sure the deal works a couple of different ways.

Whiting is one of those areas that you need to be a bit careful though, Them and more so East Chicago have had a lot of incidents of lead and arsenic pollution in the soil.https://wgntv.com/2018/05/08/more-lead-contamination-found-in-nw-indiana-soil/

(Density, setbacks etc) Sometimes I'll set a meeting with city officials to discuss.Physical- Geo technical (soil) and Enviro- you will spend money here, but with this, architects and GC's are a waste of money. 

What works for anyone else reading this, has no bearing at all on what's right for you.You have to start with a plan with very specific financial goals, and have the plan, at each step along the way, tell you what that number needs to be.

Taxes and their financials aren't really important since they have no bearing on what will be.