I do have a couple of practical questions, if you don’t mind sharing your approach: How do you typically structure the option fee?

For all practical purposes it is impractical for buyers to be aware of any deficiencies prior to entering into an agreement to purchase (especially when time is of the essence) so our advice is to double down on due diligence if you get the property under contract.

That will tell you how closely their approved rents track HUD’s posted FMRs in practice.

I see a lot of new investors debating BRRR vs fix & flip, and I think the framing itself is usually the problem.In practice, the bigger decision isn’t the strategy.

If you’re just starting in Pittsburgh, the most practical first property is a single-family home.Here’s why:Easy financing (lowest down payment, best rates)Strong renter demand in working-class PA marketsSimpler management while you’re learningEasier to resell if plans changeIf you already have a bit of cash reserve and want slightly more upside, your next best option is a duplex, but only if each unit can stand on its own financially.

Everyone else is doing it is not an argument against prosecution.There are now lawyers that are building practices, solely based on suing spam callers to the tune of 1500 per call.And yes I know a number of people in our industry hit with thousands and thousands of dollars for just this issue. 

Big-ticket items like a water heater or air-conditioning compressor increase the maintenance cost in that year, but successive years will be less than $400, so it averages out.The properties we recommend have low maintenance costs partly because of construction practices in Las Vegas—which is in the Mojave Desert.

For a lot of owners, the decision isn’t ideological — it’s practical.

Practice your pitch.

A few practical tips for your area and strategy: • Know Calumet City rents and realistic ARVs block by block • Build relationships with local inspectors and contractors • Understand Section 8 inspection standards ahead of time • Keep solid reserves, especially with older housing stock • Do not over leverage just because numbers look good on paper The investors who scale successfully in the south suburbs treat this like a business.