I personally was hoping to do the heavy lifting when it comes to reno and potentially management while they were to provide the down payment.

It has been lifted and a foundation has been poured about 20 years ago.

If I am able to outsource most of my advertising efforts (at about the same cost as doing it myself), and know that my money will be spent in an effective manner and generate leads, without me needing to lift a finger, I am now able to focus my attention on other areas of my business.I am just beginning my sixth month within the system, and the results have been better than I anticipated.

The "average" S&P rate isn't compariable in my mind to real estate since its still not apples to apples --- you don't purchase properties across the entire real estate sector, you pick and choose. 

You'd want to have higher growth, dividend paying stocks (like Apple) that pay a low dividend along side of slow growth, high dividend paying companies (like AT&T).

Your seller may be exempt from new laws, since you are a dealer, not an owner, you may not have the same exemptions.Financing real estate is a very big deal, if you were doing this selling a bag of apples it might be a good idea, those that don't understand RE financing should stay clear of dreaming up things, Do some reading, much has been written here about CFDs and other methods, the CFD is the worst way now, I suggest you not go there like that. :)

But let's make sure we're talking apples to apples here.

@Chingju Hu - You are comparing oranges with apples.

I agree that comparing my examples may be too simplistic and not close enough to apples to apples.

Does anyone have any creative ideas of how a city and local investors can work together to ensure that all properties are safe, habitable and reasonably well-kept without instituting such a harsh, blanketed ordinance meant to keep some of the 'bad apples' in compliance?