The o ly bad things I've heard are "hidden fees" which I figured are fees that the uneducated never asked about to begin with.

Got to raise rents and find hidden value to have investing work in 2025. 

We’ve had issues with fake notaries and lien fraud.All the title attorneys we know recommend that lender’s instructions require all signatures be notarized by an employee of the title company.

There’s nothing worse than hidden issues cutting into your profits.The top three things I look out for are resale value, major expenses, and profit.

🏡 Success Story: Young Street, Richmond, VAWe purchased Young Street off-market on May 23, 2025 for $173,000 — a hidden gem ready for transformation.With a targeted $50,000 renovation, we completely reimagined the home:✨ Added stairs to the attic for full access✨ Finished out two spacious rooms upstairs✨ Installed a brand-new full bathroom✨ Staged it to perfection for maximum market appealJust 4 days after listing, it sold on October 27, 2025 for $390,000.💰 Purchase Price: $173,000🔨 Renovation Cost: $50,000🏠 Sale Price: $390,000📆 Days on Market: 4💵 Profit (before closing costs): ≈ $167,000This project is a perfect example of how creative vision, strategic upgrades, and professional staging can turn an overlooked property into a massive win.We didn’t just flip a house — we created opportunity, equity, and a story of success.

You still have to have it sprayed again in 3 weeks in case hidden eggs hatch out.

Experienced foreclosure buyers bid low enough, often 50 percent of ARV or less, to cover hidden surprises.We walk through every property we lend on, not foreclosures.

In addition to using those lease documents we have a whole library of work instructions we created for running all aspects of our rental business that I would be happy to share.  

If they knew of hidden defects but did NOT fix it, now that is when a disclosure is needed.

Hidden risks most investors missRisk #1: Someone reports you for creating a “duplex”Usually triggered by:Two full kitchensFire separation doorsAdvertising separate “units” on ZillowIf you avoid that, 99% of issues disappear.Risk #2: A downstairs bedroom without proper egressThis is the most common code violation on these setups.If you convert a garage, the inspector will want:Window height within egress codeMinimum ceiling heightHVAC that meets Florida energy codeNo sleeping room opening directly into garage space (if garage door stays)Risk #3: Flood zonesSeminole Heights has pockets of funky elevation requirements.If your garage slab sits low, you may need:Flood ventsElevated electricalWorth checking before sinking money.5.