The repair products have no real structural strength, so after you do the repair you still have to wrap the sides with a metal repair plate or sister'd wood beams.If you had a picture and a description of where this is, it would be easier to advise.  

Someone left the metal stakes in the ground and took my sign though.

Even just part time and my money could have been working for me much better than leaving it in the stock market and precious metals.

If you know someone, you could get a new 2.5 ton unit, line set, a-coil, new disconnect box (if needed) installed for around $2000-$2500.

I've also stumbled onto what I consider to be a great, affordable tub surround: I go to the local flooring warehouse and buy a roll of scrap vinyl, then apply it to the tub walls with contact cement and metal edging.

., real estate, precious metals, notes, etc), and the remaining funds can be invested in stocks and mutual funds. 

I really want to keep them out of the 203k loan because I don't think we're getting good pricing from the contractor.  1 - 2.5 ton Goodman R410 14 SEER Heat Pump System2 - 80% 80k BTU Natural Gas Furnace Coils (I assume the A/C condensers are included here too)He wants over $15k ($9k parts $6k labor) to replace the three outside units and the furnace coils. 

-dia. galvanized, smooth-wall sheet metal.

He washed the coils of the exterior unit to remove accumulated debris.

This means if your house is open at anytime or unoccupied you will have metal stolen and wires ripped.