My question is this: How do you organize/summarize location characteristics (i.e. crime, drugs, schools, unemployment, population growth, etc.) for each of the properties that I have found in a way that makes it easy to compare and contrast those properties? 

However if you are going from a 2 unit like you said and lets say the new 3 unit is bigger in square footage and has a better school district, closer to your work, etc a case can be made. 

The problem that we are running into is funding the renovations.

I will be doing the footwork this week to find out what zoining regulations exists, construction limitations exist, permits needed, and most importantly what funding is available.  

It is an excellent FIVE BEDROOM/ 2.5 Bath home also located in the Grassfield High School district, which was voted as one of the TOP 500 High Schools in the United States! 

I can only point them to tools they can use online to check for school ratings and crime stats and decide themselves.

Deploy your VA mortgage / house hack while you go to school, and work part time? 

Taxes are low, communities/schools are good, multiple types of transportation to the City, and many people who work in Chicago live here.Best neighborhoods for your price range: Highland, Munster, Griffith, Schererville, Crown Point (a bit further from transportation), Dyer, St.

Have an agreement about how to split the escrowed funds if someone redeems before anticipated.

My brother and I cashed out of our 5-plex in Ballard last NOV and moved our funds to a property in Boise, ID.