where is the costs associated with each step you do. 

Start executing on your planIn addition, here are some other things to do when getting started:- Join your local Real Estate Investors Association (REIA) and start networking- Ask some local investors to lunch (you pay) and be prepared with some good questions- Find a local investor who you can volunteer to do some work for

Since this is a townhome, are there any association/community fees (e.g.

https://www.thelpa.com/lpa/associations/massachusetts.htmlHi Chan,Need to surf around to find a landlord club near your investment property. 

Also, instead of a full lawsuit to force her to sell, can I simply place a lien on her house to simply recover for my costs with the appraisal & attorney feesThxIf the cost of removal of violations required to be removed by the Seller pursuant to the printed provisions of this Contract of Sale shall be in excess of five hundred ($500􀀉 00) doll􀀄􀀅s, the Seller is hereby granted the option to withdraw from this Contract of Sale, in which event the Seller shall refund to the Purchaser the monies paid on execution hereof, together with the net cost of exa􀀊ination of title and any survey actually incurred by the Purchaser, not exceeding rates usually charged by any major title company where no policy is issued and where title shall fail to close; whereupon this Contract of Sale shall become null and void without any further liability on either par􀀁y to the other unless the Purchaser shall agree to take title subject to said violations and assume the performance thereof and receive an abatement in reduction of the purchase price in the sum of five hundred ($500􀀂00) dollars􀀂 The options herein granted shall be exercised by notice in 􀀋riting by certified mail, return receipt requested􀀃

If you have a real estate license, you would have to abide by the rules of the real estate association.   

I just laid all costs associated with my price on the table.

Tell them what you want and ask them how to get it.You will find more deals and good business associates than you can handle...... good luck

Rental Housing Association of Washington  http://www.rhawa.org/3.

@Bernard Chouinard We had a lead inspector trainer speak to our Association about two years ago.