Don't know your market, but in mine we get a decent amount more then 5% interest on seller finance. 5% barely outpaces inflation.

It took three years of losses before my first duplex started turning a profit, but I bought a total crapshack for $45K cash and getting one unit to barely livable condition and the other to rentable condition took me three years of my spare time.

Things like sewer and water service lines, main stacks - lots of old stuff that breaks and destroys your numbers for the entire YEAR.We manage hundreds of these homes and, and our clients are barely breaking even in many cases, due to higher tenant turnover in those neighborhoods, the age of the properties, and the low rents.

I can barely get 3% CAP.

Fundamental question: is the equity in the house long term worth the risk of a “break even” scenario for a few years if we can cover the mortgage in times of vacancy (barely, but we can do it)?

This legislation will require: “the presence of deteriorated paint, which may contain lead, on the interior and exterior of pre-1978 residential structures and on bare soil be identified and correctly addressed.”

We took the kitchen and bath down to bare studs and are rebuilding. 

Im wondering if anyone can tell me if they've had any past experiences, good or bad, that i should know about before really pulling the trigger, and also if the state of ohio is a tenant friendly or landlord friendly state.this is my first of many more post to come from me about this market so bare with me here !!

I have a single family house with longtime tenants who are just barely getting by financially, and experiencing various health problems. 

You have home prices that have barely come down since the peak.