Looking at the data it doesn't appear that house prices go up dramatically.

The property value has increased dramatically over the past 5 years, 100K.  

In fact, we try live on my partner's income (the smaller one, though our spread isn't quite as dramatic as yours) and invest mine in a combo of equities and real property.I would caution you to tread lightly and do lots of up front diligence before buying a commercial entity and quitting your day job.

So our priorities are as follows:1) Make sure everyone is safe2) Find out which tenant's are displaced and how we can help3) Repo out the damaged house/s and follow proper protocol to prevent mold (see article on my website)4) Doing contracting work for other folks 5) Collecting rents for month with a 10 day grace period and working one on one with dramatically impacted tenants (sounds like just 1 or 2 for us)

By 1031 exchanging those condos that each practically doubled in value, Now have $160,000 cash flow and in 4 of the apartment complexes we have dramatically forced appreciation too that we will either refinance and take all that appreciation in year 4 or 5 of ownership or at that same time 1031 exchange for a larger property at that time.  

Get multiple quotes, the costs can range dramatically.

This collateral (the land) might have been thrown in last minute to boost NCAV for all I know. 

Prices have risen dramatically as I'm sure you know just like everywhere. 

I have roughly a little more than $3000 in savings, and looking to snowball some secure loans / cards to boost my credit.

Now, your soil profile will not change that dramatically over your life time... and if a couple of inches of topsoil washes away, it will not affect the pile.