1105 Woodlawn Cir., Waukegan, IL 60085

Think of it as a dusty barn find. Sure, it's got rust and dents and mouse poo. But does it have promise? Answer that question and you could be the next Warren Buffet of real estate. What this little scrap heap of good-intentions-gone-bad has going for it is a great cul-de-sac location for starters. It's got a slice of cherry pie shaped lot with a scoop of bike path right out back. And the back yard is exactly how you'd picture a beautiful park with lush emerald lawns, glorious shade trees, and expertly planted bushes that offer serenity and privacy all in the same bushy plant - if the park staff didn't all have to quarantine for the last month and let the place go a bit. It's a barn find, remember? Step on up to the front door but be careful, the front entry deck has the look of a weathered New England Fisherman... a bit wobbly on too much rum - the loose boards are just part of his character. Step into the living room and that "low expectation grimace" you strap on as sure as your flashlight and Flipper Undies your significant other got you last birthday, will melt away. "This isn't so bad" you think to yourself as you doodle on your clipboard. Don't worry house jockey, it gets worse. Swing that big flashlight left and you've got two decent bedrooms with all the stuff you expect to find in a bedroom - like a closet or a window or a door with a knob. You're smart enough to know paint and new carpet would make mamma proud. But the light fixtures aren't bad - save a few bucks by licking the dust off 'em and calling it good. The bathroom is a priceless compilation of cheap ingenuity. It's got some nice wall tile in all the places you don't need wall tile. The tub surround is a step up from a trash bag duct taped to the wall. The wall light mounted on the ceiling does provide some nice filtered downlighting if you want to snap a quick selfie in the medicine cabinet mirror - might end up being your new Facebook profile pic. Don't miss the shelf and hanging rod brackets over the toilet allowing you to do your business and get dressed at the same time - as we said... genius. The kitchen has some room to work with. It's vintage 1994, and they tried to do their best. But it was 1994, and everyone knows 1994 was not a good year for kitchens. With OJ, Forest Gump, and the loss of John Candy, who had time for kitchens anyway? The charming distressed look was provided by generations of obliging tenants. Note the attached dining area - this was an addition added by someone frustrated with TV trays decades ago. Nice to have. Next you will want to head downstairs, your big all-aluminum flipper-flashlight leading the way. Or just turn the lights on. Get to the bottom of the stairs and you might scream "holy rabid racoons, there's seepage down here". And you'd earn an investor gold star right on your clipboard doodles for picking up on the obvious. But fix it and what have you got? Once you calm down and look around, all isn't bad. As you timidly begin to explore, wilding swinging your light from wall to wall, you notice the furnace and water heater ain't so old. Hmmm, electric panel looks undated too. Plumbing maybe not so bad. OK, breathe a bit easier. Head back outside, nothing else to see inside. What about the roof, you wonder. "New one put on in 2018" a small insect on your shoulder whispers in your ear. Hey, it's got a garage too, and those are always good to have. So here's the tricky part - can you rent it or flip it and make money? You've got the special undies, so you need to figure that part out. But, the price is pretty firm and you need cash - small bills in paper bags (only kidding on the paper bag, seller takes paper or plastic). Any less and the owner will fix it and flip it. Want to make sure you lock this badboy down for your next YouTube Channel flip project... go look, use that clipboard to do some "figurin", and present cash contract. Super easy. But you knew that.