1) Price: $249,000 (duplex in class b, c area/San Diego, CA) Shortsale and appraisal came in at list price, orig. owner purchased for $475k in 2005 Owner pays utilities, tenants pay elec., gas 2 units rent for $1200 a month.

I currently utilize a self-directed IRA.

If that's good; they have no evictions; no criminal history; and only one hit over a utility bill, then I would certainly rent to them.

Bought a 4/2 1700 sq/ft 2 story in my backyard in late December for $60K, spent $35K total on rehab, holding, closing, utilities, everything.

.- What about lawn care, accounting costs, legal costs, termite inspections/treatments, advertising, utilities during vacancy periods, etc?

And reminds me of a unit which had separate utilities, but for some reason the baseboard floor heaters were all ran off the main unit's meter.

Its 3 family home with seperate utilities and entrances from the outside.

After an extensive rehab (90K) completed before the end of 2008, it is ready to sell or lease.

If the rental was greener would they pay more for rent, less for utilities (overall wash) just becuase it was green?

The positive of the extensive research was that I got a decent deal on my townhouse, and I actually enjoyed learning as much as I could about real estate.