That’s a challenge I throw!

For the basics: good, fast, or cheap - pick 2 out of 3 but you won't get all 3. 

The cost of foreclosure is not cheap, but compared against a botched one it is cheap.

Plan to do at least two coats, especially if you are going with a dark color, and you should be set.Worst case scenario if you end up with an extra gallon, save some for touch ups and then throw the rest up on the wall as a 3rd coat.

But if you are looking for multi-family units on the cheap with a consistent rent-only mindset then it's a good area for that.

You can throw all the comps in the world at them and they'll still stick to their original appraisal. 

But before you pull out your pitchforks and tell me about cheap cash flowing houses in the Midwest, let me explain.I have a VA loan that I want to put to work.

But in my mind it's only second best :)In my mind  the absolute best tax saving strategy available anywhere is the ability to live in a property sell it and take the profit tax free under sec 121 - the primary residence exemption.And being able to combine sec 121 and sec 1031 with small multifamily properties of 4 or fewer units and using favorable primary financing is like throwing gasoline on a fire!!!

Take on fixed debt while it's cheap and build as many income sources as you can.  

Anything more is throwing good money after bad.Check that your PM is not padding their bill to you.