Imagine not eating for a day because you had to spend what little money you had available on caulk.

This site is absolutely free (thanks to Josh) and no-one needs to spend a penny if they don't want to.

I spend a large portion of my time personally rehabbing properties to rent out (not the most effective use of my time, probably, but I enjoy it), but I think that should be considered a separate activity.

Dan, I think prices vary quite a bit across the country, but here's some ballparks from my area (SC)1) Kitchens...too hard to say since there are so many degrees of finish, but expect to spend a large portion of your rehab budget here2) For a small bathroom in a typical rental, I'd say 4-6k.

Carpet aren't good if you have pets, if you want to spend too much for hiring a cleaner's then you must removed your carpet or you clean it yourself.

In this scenario, what sort of money should I expect to be spending on the property itself?

sorry TC, was more curiousity than anything else. just looking to see what someone else considers a borderline neighborhood, in streets that i know so to speak.as i said, after working in an off neighborhood and spending my young life near one, blue collar is fine with me, no collar is not.

I do plan on spending some time in the location that I do buy.Most of you guys say to buy closer to home.

That's just keeping yourself busy..spend that time knocking on the doors of homeowners in foreclosure.

A lot of the problems with the current housing meltdown came about by people who, like politicians thought they could "spend themselves rich".Without knowing any of your specific numbers let me throw out some to try to approximate where you are.