I would bet 500 a month for insurance. 200 for utilities, could be 1000 a month property tax depending on the area, permits for the rehab, staging, etc. 15K is way too low.

Don't limit yourself to believe that it can't be done while you are living in Germany.

Your best bet is to Hire a Family attorney, that will advise you on the best course of action.

The banks diversify as many way's as they can to limit the risks and maximize their returns within the regulatory limits.2.

@Dayne WintersHoboken (preferably Downtown),Jersey City (Anywhere off the "PATH" Train, note the Waterfront, Downtown, and Newport are nicer than Journal Square)Manhattan (anywhere really but the nicest areas are anywhere south of about 70th street)Queens (Long island city, or Astoria near a subway stop)Brooklyn (Downtown, Heights, Carroll Gardens, Park slope, Williamsburg, there are others but that's just the short list)Since your question is a bit limited I am unsure if this is business or vacation and if it is with children or without.

I'm having new shingles put on a duplex and the roofer has two options:1) BP Mystique 42 Limited Lifetime Warranty Shingles  (base shingles)2) Malarkey Vista 40 yr Warrant Shingles (+$950 upgrade)Roofer figures upgrading from base shingles will extend shingle life from about 20/25 to 35/40 years. 

However, insurance is limited because it only protects you from one type of liability: accidents/negligence.

But we are not sure if we can find a good mutli family in the area within the time limit.

I love the strategy of small multifamily properties. 1 roof, 1 foundation, multiple tenants :)In the Charlotte market, this strategy is VERY challenging, just because the inventory is much more limited than single family/townhouse/condos.

Your best bet is to call the local PD and have them come out, verify with a walk through that the tenant left, and get a police report to verify that for your records.