The reality is that over a 15 year period well leveraged investments will pay dividends far beyond what can be realised by squirrelling cash away in a mattress, I mean a property.With interest rates as low as they are paying off a mortgage is returning almost nothing as a investment vehicle.

If you have money in mattress, lenders tend to think it is drug money.If you have above financial set, then you are ready to look at potential real estate.

They said they put their mattress in a protector, cleaning throughout, etc. but the situation didn't improve.

@Jessica Jay-Maleski is it small trash, like cups and cans, or is it large junk like furniture and mattresses? 

I explain to her that there's both a pull out sleeper sofa and a brand new self inflating queen air mattress for their use, essentially sleeping 10. 

Not just a mattress and box spring, but he tapped into the electric and had a TV/DVD combo with DirecTV!

-no appreciation-rent value is no MORE than monthly PITIIf those are true, you would do better keeping your cashing under your mattress on payday.

Assuming you are getting a 10% CoCR by spending (putting $35k under a mattress in this house) of your own cash, that would mean if all went perfect, it will take you 10 years just to break even.Before you say, "I have equity", you may have equity from the $35k, but if you paid for your equity, it isn't a profit...it's a loss...and that equity you are getting through appreciation, you would get even if you put no money into the deal.Like I said earlier, please make an appointment with the nearest hospital to get that bullet out.

Also the back is large enough that I have even hauled refrigerators to rental properties, strapped ladders and mattress to roof rack.  

You're right, everyone should just be pessimistic in anticipation of the next crash and keep their money stashed under their mattress, letting inflation beat them.