Probably my own fault for not checking what the tenant left behind but it literally looks just as it did last time I was there - there are bananas and bread on the counter, fridge full of food, clothes on the floor, dishes in the sink...

Congratulations @Michael RogersGreat inspiration and reward for consistency and hard work.

@Bryan Pham,Just some food for thought, I have gone through a couple of CPAs in my area and then got one from out of state that was recommended to me.

To keep food on the table while making them comfortable.  

Below numbers are rough based on speaking with my real estate agent.My Situation: I do not have enough DTI available to buy the neighbor's house nor fund the construction phases for Option 1.Option #1:Short Description: Buy the neighbor's house and pop the top and dig the basement out and sell each as separate units.Issues: Funding to buy the neighbors house/popping the top/digging out the basementRough Numbers: My house 370k, neighbor's house 350k-450k, Pop Top on both 125k-160k, Dig both basements 80k-100k, Finishes - 50k-100K    Total Cost - Roughly 1,150,000 Potential Reward: Selling each unit around 750k-900k Total - 1.5M-1.8M Option #2:Short Description: Ask the neighbor how much they are willing to sell their half and wholesale their half and my half to an investor.Issues: Finding out what the neighbors are willing to sell.

Anyway, some food for thought.

Rentals are a long term strategy whereby you put money into them today and then see rewards over the next 30 years.

I used to live in Berlin for 2 years and in Dublin for the same amount of time, before comig back to France very recently to join a new office opening (and I also really missed the food).

Less risk, less capital and potentially greater rewards. 

So, my question is, which of these scenarios are more likely, and how can I best estimate the risk/reward potential?