I'd like to think it was some source of inspiration..

Slow the roll here a bit.In the United States, we have tax treaties with other counties which essentially state that US sourced income is taxed at 30%.

@James Syed commercial brokers can be a good source of the market Cap.

Solid Source Realty...

The problem is that many lenders underwrite to stricter guidelines than fannie/freddie because they want multiple sources to sell the loan to.

Jason: While more and more assessors are getting sales information online, it's typically not as up to date as MLS or other real estate data sources.

You can use that comfort/knowledge to source great deals and if the Detroit market does turn around, you'll be poised for big payoffs.I personally would not move to Detroit and start investing there, but I would not want to move from a place of familiarity to a place that is more expensive to invest in.

Also with FHA you can go up to a 4 unit, that may or may not be something doable but it's something to think about as you look at getting started.Here is the ultimate guide to tenant screening, which is probably the single best source to get started with.

You (or somebody you hire) needs to determine the source of the water causing the mold.

One thing that can help you determine what you're getting into is having a core sample taken of the property. it will tell you soil type, groundwater and rock depth. if some rocks are big enough you might need controlled blasting. if your basement is below the stream bed grade wise, you would likely have to be pumping water 24/7 during the construction part. im not sure how well a poured concrete wall with the waterproofing on the outside will stand up to the water, but of course it would be better than a block basement. builders would reccomend under drains to drain the water. the best way to do this is mechanically, without a pump or you could still wind up pumping water 24/7 after construction is complete.