Any big industries in your market that utilize contractors? 

For those of you doing direct mail, SMS texting , Cold Calling or RVM - wondering if anyone has head of a data provider or list provider who can provide a SPECIAL list or data info on municipal water departments water turn offs / or where one or some of the following might have happen: 1) Water Meter was locked (Not Public Record info)2) Water Utility Department is owed funds and thus a lien might have been placed against the property (now Public Record info) This could be fertile ground and an indication of a more serious problem associated with a property. ~ Michael Morrongiello

I originally pursued SFH’s, but I happen to own a utility construction company that installs underground utilities for commercial projects (all wet and all dry).

Tenants pay utilities ( all electric).

Get a loan to purchase for $60k (or less), put down 25%, amortize over 15 to 20 years, put $15,000 in it for the initial repairs, and rent it out for $900 (or more) per month and have the tenants pay utilities separately.

You are funding it's operation with other funds, instead of it producing capital for more acquisitions. 

As to utilities, depends on whether tenants pay for it in the area, or owner.

Credit Score is about 650 for each of the couple. 90k revolving credit card debt..with utilization > 95%.However rental history is good.

I see this as a possible strategy to build a few homes, BUT I still have so much land left to utilize.

(and of course it will have been used before it overflows)  My exposure to investment property is through REIT's only because I live in one of the outer boroughs of NYC and I see no point in spending a ridiculously high amount of money for a building that's going  to produce a ridiculously low cash flow (that's IF everyone paid and IF nothing broke- big IF's)  add to that gross over regulation along with moronic laws that give all the power to the tenant  and I can't see a reason for me, if I want to be able to sleep at night and have peace of mind, to own physical property.