They briefly went over techniques such as lease options, dun and bradstreet, and asset protection.

The monthly mortgage should be pretty easy to figure out if you're using HM or a private lender, the property tax can be found online you like said and as far as electric, gas, water and sewer I just estimated what I thought it would be knowing the area and I added a little extra $ to each just to play it safe.

Check out a greenhouse or even Lowes or Home Depot's gardening center and ask if there is anything safe to either plant around the front of the house or a couple pots on the front porch.

How to be safe?

@Eric Gutierrez I insulated my walls and ceilings in my home with Roxul safe and sound. it was a 1920's bungalow.

I always push first time buyer clients to do basic updates/raise rents to create some equity, if they can BRRR the deal out in a year great and if not they still have an excellent safe first rental.

Safe travels and hope to host your next trip to Cambridge.Don't forget to leave us a review on Airbnb! 

Is it safe to assume that an off market property that someone is actually willing to sell would more than likely NOT be something turnkey?

There are Consumer Safe Copies lenders can distribute.

I’d love to chat and get to know what your techniques are in assessing local market (I’m in Chicago as well) but also what you’re looking at in California.