The members of MM will likely be myself and my wife as we are going to make a marital property capital infusion to cover the costs of setting it up plus some minor working capital.  

There are a lot of things to like about Chicago as a whole, but many investors that I know have experienced some pains with single family flips in recent months. 

I worked 3 jobs to fund deals, and I loved it because I earned it after going through the pain.

I'm looking around and still trying to find a multi family property that my family can owner occupy. it's all very exciting and nerve racking at the same time.Best of luck to you on this property and to the next one.I financed this through a conventional loan which can be painful since it requires 25% down when it’s not your primary residence.  

Most of them are unreliable, not very skilled or just a pain in the butt to deal with. 

I could afford to replace the whole cost but it would be painful so does that mean I should get insurance?

It took a re-finance with a $20,000 cash infusion with whatever loan pay down I had accumulated AND 4-5 years to get mine to support itself.

I want to get this driving for dollars 14 hours a week business over with as soon as possible because it is painful.

Ya, kinda pains me to destroy 4 perfectly good steps but I'd have to rent some sort of equipment to move them and then I imagine I'd be faced with the exact same problem in 10 years if I put them back in place.

That would be a pain in the *ss, but technically feasible.Good luck and hope that helps!