We currently owe $1,200,000 on that particular property...it is a small strip center and our tenants make the mortgage payment for us.

Expect that you will overpay, expect that you will underestimate rehab costs, expect that you will over- or under-rehab, expect that your expected ARV will be too high, expect that your holding time will be longer than planned, etc.

Get a mortgage broker involved to give in depth workings and stress the return of money before the return on money.You could do the same thing one on one, introduce an attorney who will work with you.As a Realtor you can say that you can see the possibilities, identify great deals, but you can't really address the internal workings, underwriting aspects, risk, so get a center of influence who can and do so with authority.

Not bad ugly, just ugly, fix it.Go half way up from the second floor and bottom of the top windows and put a 4/12 roof out the front the length of the house, build a porch 6 to 8' out keeping a higher opening, center the steps to the door, landscape as mentioned above, paint it, you'll have a totally different house.

I think you belong in the Silicon Valley.

I don't think duplex deals belong in this section, and if they do, that should be changed.

I grew up in Coal Center PA in an area where it seemed like everyone's parents had black lung disease.

Youth center being built less than a block away, and the city has passed plans to repair the surrounding area.

Here is my view.Pros:Insurance - Significantly less than SFR's (ours is about 20% of that of SFR's)Responsibility - You are not 100% responsible for roofs, exterior walls, etcAmmenities - Typically you share the cost for pools, fitness centers, etcRepair Expenses - Typically smaller units and easier to maintainEconomies of Scale - It can be helpful to be able to acquire multiple units in a facility.

Could be faster or could be longer (potentially significantly longer if you're just starting out).Just my experience...