Going into 2018 still ranks #2.https://solarpowerrocks.com/2018-state-solar-power-rankings/Factors include:1) Overall Grade 2) Renewable Portfolio Standard 3) Solar Carve Out 4) Electricity Price 5) Net Metering 6) Interconnection 7) Solar Rebates 8) State Solar Tax Credits 9) Performance Payments 10) Sales Tax Exemption 11) Property Tax Exemption--It's not all just about sun hours.. tax incentives, rebates, and local policies make just as much of an effect on solar viability. 

@Michael HutchinsonHI Michaelwe just recorded a podcast with Bob Burg from The GO Giver and I asked him how people should try to secure a mentor.  

One of the other question was why didn't I perform an inspection, and why doesn't the loan require an inspection, to which my response was I felt that I didn't need an inspection because I knew the history of the property being their neighbor as well as I saw what was repaired when they listed the property for sale, and that there are no loans that required buyer to have an inspection done as well as there was an appraisal done on the house where a property appraiser saw the house physically. 

Good luck on securing your first duplex!

If the owner is looking for a 5 year balloon payment and you can't get it turned around, can't secure bank financing, etc. then what do you do? 

I thought the security deposit could only be held to mitigate damages. 

I'm going to talk to some of the big investors in this area and see if they'd be willing to show me some numbers they have on their properties so he can literally see a breakdown of the area I'm trying to buy and see that it performs well enough for it to be viable.

I would be happy to get 6 months upfront provided they pay the 1st months and security deposit before moving in. 

"Past performance is no guarantee of future results"?

Could we deduct 50% of the security deposit as a new tenant placement expense when the previous tenant breaks the lease?