Tried the 'fixer upper' strategy on a duplex in Cleveland and now I'm wondering if sweat equity is even real
Bought a run-down duplex for $85k, spent $30k on renovations over 6 months, and the appraisal came back at $110k, so did I actually make money or just break even when you figure in my time and stress, and has anyone else had that moment where the numbers on paper don't match reality?
The real hidden cost nobody talks about is the mental toll during those 3-4 months of construction, especially if you're living in one unit while working on the other (or worse, both units). That 8% COC return looks way less attractive when you're eating gas station sandwiches every day because your kitchen is ripped out and you haven't slept through the night in weeks.