don't mean to step on any contributors toes  but I purchased a 4 bedroom one and a half bath home in Englewood for $8,000 a couple of years ago I put in about $12,000 in upgrades to the kitchen and bath and did an entire interior repaint so yes it there are properties in Chicago town in that range.Chase pls PM me.

I called him with the intention of telling him he has to pay Feb rent but he can stay the first half of March for free -- then he started talking about how the lease is not valid and I didn't follow through.

But there are million dollar condos going up a blocks from my home, you cannot get a seat in one of the local coffee shops (Compass Coffee I'm looking at you), high concept farm2table restaurants keep popping up within a half mile, along with several gyms (parkoor, pilates, barre, etc).

Perhaps a buyer would just like to use the other half for storage or for members of his/her immediate family to visit.I am wondering because I was Navy and "decommissioned" is an old word and perhaps might be used as a legal term?

Probably at least half the sellers I have met thus far I knew I couldn't put under contract for a variety of reasons but I went and met them anyway just to get experience talking with sellers and looking at houses. 

It is also .35 miles from the most upscale neighborhood in the county.

  @Glenn Patti , @Bill Douloumbakas Just to give you guys the update on some of the fees:About 15 years ago adopted a rental registration ordinance which required landlords to register their properties with the City and provide a contact number for an owner or agent within 20 miles from the property.

there is a great website that has nearly half million members many of which have a lot of experience... you should join.... i think it is called biggerpocket.com    :)     welcome aboard.  

If you have a disaster, Fema and insurers will write you a letter and tell you that your damage was a preexisting issue so you only will get half of replacement cost.

In the meantime, I found a quadplex a few miles north.