Investors and lenders are talking more about true cash‑flow coverage, realistic ARVs, and stronger covenants.For those active in private money this year:What’s carrying the most weight in your deals right now—DSCR, borrower experience, or down payment/equity?

• How do you typically track maintenance and long-term property upkeep?

A few examples:Instant Lead Response: AI chats answer seller leads immediately and capture key info.Automated Follow-Up: Keeps 7–15 touches consistent across SMS, email, calls.Quick Deal Screening: AI flags potential repairs, timelines, and holding costs before you open a spreadsheet.Curious what the community thinks:Have you tried AI in your investing workflow?

In general there are more upkeep and surprises that a early 1900s building can have compared to a 1980s building for example.

yep your weight in gold.  

I want to rehab and then hold/rent.One wall has stress fractureThe rear porch is constructed illegally without permits or plans and presents  INADAQUATE FIRE RATING ON WALLS AND CEILING; DECKING EXCESSIVE SLOPE, POSSIBLE DUE PORCH PULLING AWAY FROM BUILDING AND OR BEAM TO COLUMN CONNECTION FAILING, AND OREXCESSIVE WEIGHT; JOIST MISSINGHANGERS; GUARD RAILS HORIZONTALWITH EXCESSIVE SPACING; LEDGERS-ALL TOE- NAILED CONNECTIONS;LEDGER AND STRINGER ALL NAILEDCONNECTIONS; FOUNDATION NOTVERIFIED; does this mean I have to tear the porch?

What is your #1 "Dealbreaker" when someone applies with a dog (besides breed/weight)?

---Step 3: The scoreI built a scoring framework that weights five dimensions:- Cap rate vs. submarket average (30%) — no cap listed here, so this is partially estimated- Price/SF vs. recent comps (25%) — this is where this deal shines- Location fundamentals (20%) — Newark/Essex has I-78, I-95, and port proximity going for it- Value-add / condition (15%) — price reduction suggests possible upside- 1031 suitability (10%) — credit tenant + clean income = strong candidateThis deal scored 8.0/10 — which in my system means "strong, prioritize it."

Just zero upkeep from their side). 

That's common for townhomes in appreciating areas, but it means your return is heavily weighted toward appreciation rather than cash flow.Quick back-of-napkin on your actual cash-on-cash: if you're collecting ~$1,600/month, subtract roughly $1,500-1,550 for PITI plus HOA on that LLC loan, and you're probably netting $50-100/month cash flow — maybe 0.6-1.3% cash-on-cash return on your $95K invested.