However, as we were leaving our agent noticed the meter box was slightly open so he checked it and besides the wasp attack all copper was stripped from box.

I'm not here to sugar coat it. 

In this case, with the tenant working from home in a home office, as I do, a window unit appears to be an ideal short-term solution here, cheaper for the tenant, cheaper for you.On a side note, this is why you don't skimp on the argon fills and e-coating on windows when you replace them in rentals.

Great that you are thinking about investing at 17, but $1,400 in the bank in NorCal is like having a hay penny at a Tesla dealership.

She wipes down the front of the cabinets and applya a coat of wax.

The neighborhood keeps changing and I think 20 years down the line, I'll be happy I have a little piece of it paid off and making me a pretty decent penny every month. 

Your house 30 years from now will be paid off and worth a pretty penny but there's a lot of other expenses that come with a home.

I’m not smart enough to find deals off market for pennies on the dollar wish I was I’d be rich!

I am thinking the walls need a fresh coat of paint, flooring needs to be replaced with an engineered hardwood or laminate on the main level, maybe new carpet upstairs and updating the bathroom fixtures.

Usually if you offer, for example 5K over asking price, it's really only pennies on the dollar in terms increasing of your monthly payment and can help get you the property.