if you can afford to buy rental properties you should consider it.  

If you have access to $30k homes, can afford the costs of renovation and the costs of the resale while remaining profitable you're only a "friends and family round" away from being in business.This is a sum of money that banks are just not going to write short term debt on without excellent credit and collateral.

If I can find a more affordable place to live, I wouldn't be throwing so much money into another person's mortgage and I could potentially be turning a profit for myself.

That may get frustrating if it is your first deal, but you must start some place.

We aren't talking about a wise buyer who understands value and pays more because they can afford to because of other intrinsic values to them, we're talking about Joe Public who is led to believe the price is reasonable when in fact it is not.Don't get me wrong, I'm all for free enterprise, open markets, but there is a line not to cross in dealing fairly with Joe Public, especially in real estate. 

When we foreclose on a tax lien we get the properties at very low prices so we can afford to self finance.

Just can't afford to.

Most of the property I could afford have what they call a maintenance fee that varies greatly, can be from 150$ to 600$ depending on the property.I would like to know what these fees are based upon ?

I did get a "we are working on it" email but that is USELESS and FRUSTRATING. 

I would gladly gut her apt. tenants don't understand if I start renov with her in it. her life will be uncomfortable.but now she complains neighbor got this and that..she still living with old amenities. and she pays the most rent. other unit is studio and 1 bed at 500 & 590.but those unit were vacant at one point in time and I renovated during the vacancy and push rents up.should I leave the unit as it is. she can't afford 900. and it coming towards winter. all together good tenant.my husband wants her out but we don't really have cause bc although she is behind. she took up 2 jobs to get almost current