@Kiyong Kim, please keep me posted on your efforts and successes.

So i have sorta brainstormed a few topics what do you guys think i should take away or add... sorta just going to do a data dumpI have labeled topics 1-3   1= basic   2=intermediate   3= advanced1-3 Property Management Absentee ownersShort term investors and the opportunities the miss and the opportunities they make for others1-3 Contractor's (bids)1 Bootstrapping1 The myth of real estate passive income1 My secret to massive upside Long horizon, value add mentality, “72” Bootstrapping, force down NOI via capex, property efficiency and systems1 Value Investor Mindset2-3 Managing tax liability1 Service and Hospitality (or business partners with commercial tenants)1 Small improvements can lead to massive swings in NOI1 Lower rent and lower vacancies are more important than the ego boost from high rent with medium vacancy1 Strategy… why I prefer multifamily and other strategies2 Cape rate and property class2 NOI income and expense1-3 Add Value properties and mindset1 money is made when you buy… or lost1-2 Buying your first deal series (couple episodes)1 DRY POWDER (cash)1 “72” (compounding interest basics)1-2 Money is everywhere Mentality/ mindset episodes1-2 Financial literacy/ intelligence (mini series)1 Stop asking permission1 Positivity (mindset)1-2 CASHFLOW is KING!!!!!!

@Jay Hinrichs, He's from California as I, It takes a little more effort to pry info from the Assessor's Office here.

The rents are just not high enough and the effort is high for them to take on the job.

Tony V and that means you are doing it right and saving a ton of effort later - - stay the course :)

It was suggested to me by the brilliant @Mindy Jensen to tackle the landscaping/common areas first, then rehab units as they become empty (from tenants vacating or being removed).

That means putting in the effort to undertake a comprehensive search.

Through a little digging I've also come to find that the owner is a widow who didn't initially have any interest in the building, as it was her husband who was mostly involved with the building.The owner has made no effort at making the building better and just collects the 5 checks that come in every month, even though there is an opportunity to collect more!  

It's starting to seem like none of the numbers are going to work until the market goes through a correction, or I start throwing in low-ball offers and getting creative.The scary thing is I'm finding myself secretly hoping that the market crashes so that I can get started.  

I did run credit check/criminal background check on the husband but not on the wife yet but I spent so much time and effort verifying their employment, residency history and checking their personal reference.