He even built a wooden door structure in front of his apt door with a padlock to prevent access back in 2021.

Jumping in is very nerve racking and I'm trying everything I can to minimize my risk, but I guess I can only do some much planning before jumping right in

Maybe add a textured white or off-white Afghan and/or a wooden breakfast tray at the foot of the bed. 

Those upcoming days and weeks are very exciting but definitely nerve-racking.  

I also buy vintage decor - old wooden canoes, bear rugs, fishing gear, etc.All of these things are found on Facebook Marketplace with some patience.

Wooden or vinyl windows?

Longer-term money like that means you can be more patient without constantly hearing the tick-tick-tick of interest racking up on the pull from the HELOC.

Everyone has already chimed in on the protection/ insurance side of LLC's, but one "fun" aspect of creating separate LLC's for each property is you can open up a credit card for each of those LLC's and easily keep all expenses on those property specific credit cards while racking up points and using those for travel and such :) This is a great forum thread and question!

You're racking up bad debt like crazy.

If it's been condemned then I'd be checking municipal liens that could be racking up on a day to day basis.