I am not as convinced as you that the rent increase will not keep up with utility increases.  5% + local inflation most years will mean 8%+ allowed rent increase. 

If that sounds interesting to them, ask for seller financing on some, if not all, of the remaining cost of purchase.

AFTER 10% maintenance, AFTER 10% cap x, AFTER 10% vacancies AFTER all the real expenses over inflated.  

Of the remaining 10% some of them are fabulously successful.

Gentryfying neighborhoods in DC offer large price spreads as well.Though if you are a long term buy and hold investor who is more concerned with your total return, or internal rate of return, those high income counties will typically have higher IRR's, as the demand remains high over a long timeline pushing prices up higher and higher over time.  

They may or may not help you recover more but, if you remain stationed overseas they can manage the claim process for you locally.

If you run over the entire floor and notice you have stain remaining, its usually uneven.  

I consider myself 100% UNEMPLOYABLE and intend to remain that way forever more;)

He needs to sign a roommate off lease agreement and she signs that also, and the security deposit is listed as it stays on account with the remaining tenant.FYI,, in MN a person with a Domestic Abuse Case can give notice and basically vacate FAST, with proof of the case regardless of lease term, all that's required is that rent is paid up until date they leave, no penalty. ( if I remember correctly).Which stinks for landlords.. but protects the victim from continued abuse and the abuser from finding out where they moved to, and keeps them from returning to harass. 

They covered about $85% of the required cash (repairs and actual purchase), and I covered the remaining 15%.