Typerider,While I understand what you're saying; however, to compare to an inheritance is borderline insulting :) I'm taking a year of my live to sacrifice away from my nice home and cozy crap to work 12 hour days/7days a week, sleep on a little cot in a warzone because I can see the bigger picture.

It's in a good enough spot to support low rent (even "nice" homes here can't get the rent they deserve) though and still get pos cash flow.

The nice income stream from rentals allowed me to partially retire when in my 50s.

Of course it is nice to help people and do the right thing, however our only purpose is to make money.

I need to replace the walk, but I was thinking- instead of demo-ing the concrete and fake brick, of laying down 3 inches of 3/4 inch gravel for drainage and for a base, and then laying some nice pavers such as flafgstone or cobblestones.

The nice thing about Pittsburgh is that the prices are reasonable and we don't seem to be experiencing as much of a dip in the housing market as some other areas.

this is NICE!"

The last time it was for one of my other business (computer software) - I partnered with a local college and helped some of their students get to a conference related to their subject, it made for a nice 'community conscious' angle, and got picked up by some local papers.

Plan for the costs for those changes as well as the rent from a single family.Second kitchens in the basement can make a nice wet bar.

We are remodeling a foreclosed house which will look real nice when it's done, so new appliances would add to the appeal; however, I need to keep reminding myself that I am not the one who'll be living there.