Granted this is an unusual market, especially with the added impact of the Camp Fire, but the cost is what people are paying, insured or not. 

Then come year end you take your books to an actual professional and they charge you an extra $500 to clean it all up. 

I've checked websites of foreclosures coming up and have posted one AD on craigslist.

assuming an extra 1.5% downpayment isn't out of the question

it will depend on if it has an addition put on it.....put a deck that has a roof on it that extends over the other roof and then it starts adding value. 

If you have written proof that you were only obligated until August 30th, then that is all they can charge you for.It sounds like they are charging you for the extra weeks because you didn't turn in the keys.

It may sound nice to pay a 5% management fee but the extra fees can add up to be more than the other company that charges 10% with no add-on fees.

Just started putting together my ad, and realized that calling the neighborhood "quiet" might be implying something I'm not allowed to say.

Properties might eek out a few extra dollars each month, but you would need to have a substantial portfolio before you're getting enough cash-flow to even consider living off of rental income.

Myself I have a building  background and possess journey level skill in almost all trades except maybe doing concrete work and I am also an architectural designer so I perfer properties that can be increased in value through forced appreciation and look for properties where the zoning, set back, and other requirements allow for adding square footage to a building but others perfer invest in turnkey properties already fully occupied whereas I like working with empty buildings.