If you can't get the residents out that are not paying, then nothing will help.I would hire an attorney that deals strictly with evictions and start issuing eviction notices to anyone who has broken the laws of their lease.

Quote from @Chris Seveney: @Jayden SpurlockIn future post the link vs all the photos so people can have the entire document to make their own decision good idea.

To be good at these things:1. learn your market.

If you know anyone that is good, please send them my way!

Might be tough if your south of Chagrin blvd but everywhere else in that zip is good.

So, now that I have my 401K going and an Emergency Savings fund good for 6 months of expenses, I wanted to begin investing and have decided I’d like to pursue REI primarily.

I would definitely consult/call the property tax assessor's office in whichever county you plan to reside in to be 100% certain as they will be able to tell you. 

They refused, saying there's a new rule that owner/occupants can only get permits on houses they have as primary residence and that any other house needs a contractor. .........Aaargh!!!

If the unit they are renovating is vacant, they should be fine moving into that unit and using it as their primary residence...not what they wanted to do, but c'est la vie.

Get the place fixed up and place a good tenant and move on.