I can't, however, credit PoL for seeing to it that the interest and the returned principal matched the amount I originally invested, as they did not provide any further details suggesting that they took care of things.

Just be careful.

One-time Expenses$1000 - Acquisition Costs (minor rehab, legal, & inspection)Annualized Expenses10% Gross Annual Rent - Vacancy Costs (turnover & lost rent)10% Gross Annual Rent - Property Mgmt (standard)$1176 - Repairs & CapEx ($1 per sq foot for tpical property)$1516.46 - Property Taxes (5 year historical average for typical property + 10%)$1000 - Property Insurance (a nice round number: seller reported that he paid $708/mo for one duplex)$27 - Water & Sewer (average across several properties from last month)$0 - Gas, Electric, HOA, Snow Removal (tenant pays or not applicable)$60 - Lawn Care (I made this number up)COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS:This is my analysis of the five properties that are being negotiated right now, listed from best to worst.Property Alpha (two-flat)$1250 - Income, Monthly (actual)$567.37 - Expenses, Monthly (estimated)$42,000 - Price, Signed Contract36% - Cap Rate (Annualized Income / Price)16.6% - ROI, After Tax (annually, assuming 15% income tax)6.0 Yrs - Until this property pays itself offProperty Bravo (two-flat)$1100 - Income, Monthly (actual)$537.37 - Expenses, Monthly (estimated)$42,500 - Price, Signed Contract31% - Cap Rate (Annualized Income / Price)13.1% - ROI, After Tax (annually, assuming 15% income tax)7.6 Yrs - Until this property pays itself offProperty Charlie (duplex)$1075 - Income, Monthly (actual)$532.37 - Expenses, Monthly (estimated)$55,000 - Price, Informal Discussion23% - Cap Rate (Annualized Income / Price)10.7% - ROI, After Tax (annually, assuming 15% income tax)10.3 Yrs - Until this property pays itself offProperty Delta (SFR)$875 - Income, Monthly (actual)$492.37 - Expenses, Monthly (estimated)$48,000 - Price, Informal Discussion22% - Cap Rate (Annualized Income / Price)8.8% - ROI, After Tax (annually, assuming 15% income tax)13.6 Yrs - Until this property pays itself offProperty Echo (SFR)$770 - Income, Monthly (actual)$471.37 - Expenses, Monthly (estimated)$62,500 - Price, Informal Discussion15% - Cap Rate (Annualized Income / Price)4.1% - ROI, After Tax (annually, assuming 15% income tax)24.4 Yrs - Until this property pays itself offNotice how the price keeps going up?

Be very careful of this.  

All of my LOs as the Optionee have been from sudden sellers (sudden job transfer, divorce, health, default) of pretty houses with low equity.I didn't do any of the tricks you mentioned, but they weren't listed on zillow or wherever either.  

My wife and I have a code word for them, "tipping" tenants.A disproportionate number of rental properties in my area come on the market after a tipping tenant.

@Johann Jells maybe they are prone to failure, but for a $100 do you care?  

Had to sweet-talk the local township inspector to give a CO, but the bank didn't care (or even seem to acknowledge)

Still building credit that was messed up during my marriage and I still have my GI BILL ..and apartment homes is how I look to create income for myself.So guys if you have any tips and leads any information to send me to point in the right decision I would be greatly appreciative!!

For one, he's not qualified - I'm sure you've learned it's not as easy as it sounds, and two, thats for either a GC or a project manager to do when you are too busy, but remember NOBODY will care about your money as much as you do.