In general, the entire country is hot- the RE market is doing well and unemployment is virtually at 0%, so in relative terms, Chicago shouldn't be that much different than the rest of the country.

However, it is impossible to turn into the driveway when the house is on the right side of the road.

Jesse  Hey Jesse, I'm a fellow investor on the north side of the city. 

She is in late 70's - acquired the portfolio as part of divorce and I believe just looking for cash and wants to get out of the management side. 

-all the plumbing for the bathroom was redone this weekend,  plus the hot water heater.   

The plumbing for that tub should be on the other side, with an easy access panel right there at the base of your 1st photo.As for the hinges you could drill a small screw into the hinge pin and then strip the head so it can't be removed, but that is not the kind of answer you want on a new construction home.

If you are an independent contractor with multiple years operating in your business and reasonable consistency in that income (you don't have one year with $30K and one year with $200K and are trying to claim you make $200K) then you need to keep calling lenders until you get one who can work with you, in my opinion.If my real estate side business and my book royalties from Set for Life (next year) can help me qualify for a loan, in addition to my W2 income, then I don't see why someone with consistent income from self-employment is having trouble -- perhaps the trouble is more in demonstrating consistent income from a sustainable source? 

I have a property of about 3 acres that runs along side a train track(10ft away).

@Kathy Hacmac MN law is on your side on this provided your lease required your permission. 

Again, I am not sure how this will go but at least from my side I always try to be a good landlord and make it very clear to my tenant that I will not be able to return their deposit if they don't give me enough notice in advance.