Is it just time and experience, knowing what costs what or is there a better way? 

C+ Neighbourhood13 Unit Apartment Building (Link: https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/7828-S-Essex-Ave-Chicago-IL/30374409/) The average Rent is $1400-1500 (to be safe $1300, but I am extremely confident that I will be able to rent higher adding value and convenience to the tenants and treating them as a bit with a higher level of service) - $16,900 at full occupancy and ~$12,000 at 70% building. 

Used the 3% realtor commission as a credit towards my closing costs.

A lot of CA investors go out of state to start because it's more cost effective and lower price points, look into markets like Detroit, Kansas City, St.

You may get no response at all but it doesn't cost anything to try.

It's the cost of doing business.

Numbers of the deal as followed: $266k all in cost Rents projected at $2300/mo right now. 

 I’m starting out and I’d like to know how would you go about doing an inspection on a potential deal to calculate rehab costs if the property doesn’t have any services turned on?

Unit A is about 100 years old and Unit B is almost completely new.Pros:-The duplex is in a very desirable neighborhood with home value appreciation year over year at about 50+%-Rent is also in high demand within this area-Cash flows well even with high interest rates and increasing property taxes-Home is price below average cost per sq ft-The house has been renovated and some parts of it has been remodeledCons:-All issues are with Unit A, the 100 year old unit.

Do you have any family or friends that have relocated to lower cost of living areas?