I invested $15000 in these improvements and was able to remove the PMI insurance in less than a year after purchasing the home as it appraised for $168,000.

Hope all is well with everyone during this latest challenge.I was thinking is it time to change the vocabulary and create an improved public face for landlords by changing the term itself.

We're completing a full rehab of the gutted unit, improving landscaping and stabilizing the property.

I was looking for property in Bayonne about a year ago (before literally anything was built East of 440 except for one apartment complex and the cruise terminal), but moved on as I saw no plans for improvement.

Further, what is your strategy for improving a large number of units with occupancy around 90% at purchase - do you offer tenants renovated units so that you may renovate theirs, for example? 

@Sam Cannata,  Are you doing a reverse improvement exchange? 

My biggest suggestion for you is to improve your credit score and start reading as much as you can.- The Millionaire Next Door- The book on Rental Property Investing- The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No Money Down- Long-Distance Real Estate Investing- The Millionaire Real Estate Investor- What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cashflow- How I Turned $1,000 into a Million in Real Estate in My Spare Time- Rich Dad Poor Dad- The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs

I was planning on taking out a HELOC on the paid off property to pay for these improvements. 

And hoping we can improve our monthly payment by locking at a great rate....good luck!

A little background on me, I have been constantly learning and trying to improve myself for about the last year towards real estate.