My wife and I file separate because if we filed jointly we would have to pay 10% of our combined taxable income.

Hi BP'rs, I don't have a good sense of how the interest rate cut today will affect me as a new investor looking for my first deal... will it start to drive up prices of homes in areas i'm looking at as money gets cheaper or am I off base?

Even if they don't like everything, for the buyer, it's easier/cheaper to replace a few things than to have to furnish from scratch. 

I think you just want the unit to appear cheaper when people are filtering through listings.

Either negotiate a good price or only pick upgrades that's necessary in the rough phase and do the upgrades with your own subcontractor/vendors after the house closes (kitchen upgrades, appliances, countertop upgrades, flooring upgrades, landscaping upgrades you can get them much cheaper without going through the builder).New construction is a winner if all things are the same. 

Property value is cheaper due to being on the south side, but you can get just as much space as parts of the Northeast side and just as decent tenants (depending on your screening criteria, of course). 

One study stated is was cheaper to rent than own in 97 of the 100 largest cities.  

I'm wondering if there are any strategies pros employ for multifamily inspections where it can be either done using other people's money or if a cheaper solution would work such as hiring a local property manager/agent to do a walk through.

I expect the project will be a bit cheaper than the quote because I've been sourcing materials myself which were included in the quote and was able to buy new hardwood flooring on fb marketplace as well as buying nice hardwood cabinets from Habitat Restore that will be refinished instead of buying new plus a few other fun thrifted finds to keep costs down!

Detroit is not a market to play around in without a professional on your side.Remember: cheaper doesn't mean you'll make more money.Start by going to www.narpm.org to search their directory of managers.