Section 8 doesn’t technically require a closet for a room to qualify as a bedroom, it’s more about meeting local building codes and safety standards like proper egress (a window big enough for escape) and a door for privacy.

I am not that patient. 2) value adds.

I may have to be patient and wait till spring.

In most cases you can build a new row house on a 15-foot-wide lot in Philadelphia if a 15 foot wide house was built on this lot prior to being demolished due to safety reasons.

For your own safety and to convince a lender, don’t buy this property until you can clearly explain why.

I looked around my neck of the woods, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, Oklahoma and I looked at safety, prices, appreciation, cash flow, landlord friendliness, property taxes, insurance rates, growth, high tech moving in, job growth, disasters and availability of good deals.I settled on Arizona.

Rule of thumb: if life-safety, code, or permits are involved, hire the contractor; if it’s cosmetics to get rent-ready fast, a reliable handyman is fine.

You’re in a Strong Starting Position — You Just Feel “Illiquid”You already have several things going for you:Home equity: Roughly ~$140K in unrealized equity ($235K value – $90K loan).Pension & retirement savings: Long-term financial safety net.Stable W2 income + supplemental job: Consistency lenders like.Below-market mortgage rate (4.25%) on your primary — a great asset in today’s high-rate environment.The challenge isn’t wealth, it’s liquidity — you’re “asset rich, cash flow tight.”

Starting with a duplex is how a lot of investors build wealth — you live in one side, let the other help pay the mortgage, and still keep a safety cushion from your savings.

Quote from @Andy Gonzales: Yes for sure, the move these days are smaller projects or just being super patient on the numbers that will really work out for you!