We are taking down and replacing all of the drywall, replacing the treads and risers on the stairs and this includes paint, trim, lighting, etc.Laundry/mudroom renovations: $4,461 - similar to the above, drywall, paint, trim, flooring, some small interior wall changes to closets, etc.Dining/living rooms: $6,835 - the trend continues except here we are also installing flooring.

Boston has always been a great, stable investment market and I have no doubt that trend will continue. 

You are looking in possibly the two of the hottest areas (South and NE Mpls) in the city right now, as you and many other people are looking for exactly what you are looking for, in those areas.

Good research on the location, but those trends are discouraging.

That last 100 years says it won't stick, and it will fall back to the historical trend line.

You will have to do some demo to get the stairs wider and the trends the correct length. 

There is also a new trend where millenials and others are renting in expensive markets, but investing in real estate in Texas and other locations. 

According to http://www.car.org/marketdata/data/haitraditional/HAISoCal/, the affordability has drastically decreased in the last 2 years and it's a downward trend.

Unless you can swim in the high end trends, swim somewhere else.That's what I do.

Judy,The Baltimore City area is one of the hottest markets for flipping right now.