As for utilities, the only one that will be more expensive is water/sewer.

I change toilet rings; fix water leaks; paint; collect the rent; evict deadbeats, etc.

I've been bird dogging for 3 years now and have found good investment properties ranging from total rehab to commercial.

I think I will have to buy lower in the $60K range to make it work.

This could include mortgage or private lender payments, electric, heat, water and anything else that you pay during the time you own the property.How long it takes depends on many factors.

Property Cost $200,000.00 Repairs Needed $50,000.00 Number Of Units 10 AVG Rent Per Unit $475.00 Gross Schedule Income $4,750.00 Vacancy Allowance 10% $475.00 Gross Operating Income $4,275.00 Less Operating Expenses Accounting $25.00 0.58% Advertising 0.00% Insurance $125.00 2.92% Lawn / Snow $- 0.00% Repairs $85.50 2.00% **Since i guess high for repairs, i lowered this down to 2% Monthly Taxes $458.33 10.72% *** Renter pays Utilities Electric $- 0.00% Gas $- 0.00% Fuel Oil $- 0.00% Water / waste $- 0.00% Total Operating Expense $693.83 16.23% Net Operating Income $- 0.00% Property Cost With Repairs $250,000.00 25% Down $62,500.00 Additional Cash Down $- Remaining Balance $187,500.00 Gross Operating Income $4,275.00 Monthly Mortgage $1,875.00 Total Operating Expense $693.83 Monthly Profit $1,706.17 36% profit My formula always shoots higher on the cost to protect me.

She wants to know how the buying process works and what the price range is of homes I buy.

Now there are some expensive repairs that the house needs: DETERIORATED LEAD BASED PAINT ; EVIDENCE OF MOLD ; REPLACE HEAT PUMP ; REPAIR PLUMBING ; REPAIR HVAC DUCTWORK ; REPAIR SIGNIFICANT CRACKS IN FOUNDATION ; CORRECT GROUND GRADE TO PREVENT WATER INFILTRATION ; REPAIR FRONT PORCH STEPS ; REPAIR WINDOW Just wondering if this would even be worth considering.

My plan is to buy and hold and most of what I find looks like the figures below, which is actually an REO I am going to make an offer on on Monday:3/1 and 984 SFListed for 77,900Estimate Appraisal: 93,500 - 114,000Sold in 2006 for $110,000 - but that was during the boom...Will Offer: 69,000Bank Loan: 80%Down Payment: 20% - best my area offersTaxes: 1693.00Insurance: 1,100Repairs: approx 6,000Will probably rent for about $750 - rents not = to the 1% rule in Ocala.After I figure the taxes, insurance, 5% vacancy rate, 8% of income for maintenance (don't really know how to account for this as I'm a newbie), $210 electricity/water holding costs till rented per year, $200 for advertising to rent it per year, my OE are at 48% of my operating income . 8,400 - 3855 = 4,209.I will have 4,209 left to pay P & I, and I will be negative a couple hundred dollars the first year.

The range is impressive though - for Class A properties the range is from a low of 3 to a high of 7.8.