LOL... what a waste of time and energy and allow idots an open voice I bet they feel like big shots in there little hum drum world... they are just little people James...  

Try this... build a much larger column base at the same height as the bottom of the stone, maybe tapered (bigger at the bottom) and made from a similar stone, with a much larger column (easily built onto the existing post) resting on top.Find a NATURAL, neutral-colored, plain stone or slate, and tile the raised concrete stoop.Paint the entry door a deep, very rich color that complements the brick.Then, the gable on the right with round-butt shingles (I think) needs a lighter color, maybe even a bit bright to complement both the brick and the entry door, since it extends over the stoop.Finally, taller greenery under the stone with a lower front level of varying texture and color (especially around the entry) will result in the stone being much less prominent.

Hi Kim,The house is screaming for a proper proper porch/entry with a portico... it would completely transform the front facade and give the house some much-needed curb appeal.That said, with your extremely limited budget, the next best solution would be build a MUCH bigger wood porch over the existing one (no demo cost, and it's below the entry treshold) that extends a few feet farther into the yard from the house, and if you can afford it, to the far right small window.Either way, build two simple fat columns at the corners of the porch that would be about a foot higher than the railing, and positioned just outside the two smaller windows flanking the entry door.Then, paint the entry door a deep, very rich burgundy.It probably would exceed your super-tight budget, but would absolutely be worth the investment.

Conventional financing is your best bet.

Don't sell yourself short, I bet you could manage a mean property!

I think your best bet is to raise rents accordingly based on the fact heat would be included. 

Your best bet is to purchase the material yourself you can get a great deal on material if you plan on being a house flipper for the long term.

Here's how: A gabled roof beginning over the door, at least as wide as the lower step, that extends a few feet past the front of the house, the gable matching the pitch of the existing one, with two large supporting columns (stone?)

People seem to be starting to deconvert 2-flats into SF as well to get the cost differential.I bet you can still find something good on Trulia/Redfin.

So far with my research it seems that single family homes or multi family homes are my best bet right now.