If you can't afford to do this (i.e., you need this money to live from), it sounds like quite a risky proposition.Anyway, at the end of the day, there really aren't any rules, only general guidelines and suggestions.

I have been afforded a lot of up and downs highs and lows with doing this level of investing.

If I were you I would just go and have a talk with the guy, find out if he is just cheap and thinks hes not hurting anyone or if he is broke and this is the only way he can afford power.Maybe just go and explain to the guy that what he is doing is stealing and if he doesn't stop and get the power turned on in his name you will have to take this to a more serious level.

 :) It's very frustrating that the Agent's / RE lobby got into these areas, state by state, and created alot of confusion.Creative finance deal structures are not dead!  

I cannot afford to call a handyman to fix every little problem, so i might as well learn as much as i can.Thanks for the advice and recommendation....appreciate it.

For wood floors, steam clean them and put on rejuvanate (about $16/qt at home depot) which lasts about 6 months or mop and glow (which lasts about a week) to make them clean and shiny, if you really can't afford to have them sanded.  

However it is my frustration that Baltimore City refuses to turn off the water.

Once I accomplish that, I plan to move outside, posibly Florida and the property in NYC will finance both itself and the second property which will be much more affordable.

One issue I find a little frustrating is they'll occasionally call me during a service request and tell me certain things are not covered, and they'll ask for an additional amount to repair the entire thing (though it isn't usually some ridiculously high amount, maybe another $100-$200 depending on the problem).

As frustrating as it is, you just can't.