The home at $285K needs a paint job and some interior remodeling that wouldn’t be too difficult and would bring the value of the home up to around the homes around it.

The contractor that you choose can't be a family or friend's company, or in my case, it couldn't be my personal remodeling company. 

Purchase price: $225,000 Cash invested: $80,000 Sale price: $355,000 Full rehab, new kitchen remodel to open it up, New granite counter tops in kitchen and all bathrooms with under mount sinks, new flooring , new laminate wood flooring , new tile in kitchen and bathrooms, and new carpet in bedrooms.

The remodel seemed to drag on more than we had hoped.

However, if you are remodeling the duplex to configure it to have more units, then it really depends.

beautiful remodel What was the outcome?

Maybe his parents could loan us $ for the remodel. 

This is pure opinion based on my years of flipping homes, fixing rentals, and being a remodeler. 

There is also a newly remodeled retail location nearby that has a couple vacancies (not sure how long these have been on the market).The lender we wanted to work with backed out because of this issue.

But it's way too intimidating to take on a full-on remodel like that if you ask me, as a total newbie.