What are the odds? 

And yes... very sweet :-)In my mind, trying to find a place that's going to appreciate is a LOT harder and I would move from "investing" into "speculating"  There's nothing wrong with hedging your bet and doing your research and trying to make sure you're not going into an area that's *completely* going to tank, but I've found that when you start speculating on future prices, you start down the path of just what you described... one piece of information says this, another says that... and they're both at odds with each other. 

Coin toss if a normal owner is up to date on his income taxes, what do you think the odds are if someone is selling for below market value and "needs" to close in 17 days?

, and they are an odd size, and have a toe kick on two sides.

I am interested in managing the property myself but that leads to its own hassle, but oddly the reason I want to go into landlording.

I can’t complain.Facts: 1200 SF ranch 3-2 with an odd layout, sun room on back of house with fenced in backyard on a corner lot. 2 car garage.

People end up in very difficult/odd situations and their thinking can be drastically different than how we see it here.

yet took some rather odd actions.For example:Board started digging drains in front to of my house without ever acknowledging my engineer's letter about the damp, or coming in to look at where it was coming in.This was not recommended by the engineer.Meanwhile, I was waiting for funds to replace the carpets and while delays went on I had to move out the house because of the risk of mold. 

This post seems kind of odd

It stIll needs a roof, HVAC hooked up, and about $1,000 of odds and ends punch list things.