I'm willing to bet they caused this damage over a period of time, not just the last six months. 

If I lend 30k for someone to close a REO deal then I'll have their car pledged, or have a co-signor that pledges the 30k if it is defaulted.a 2nd lien position with no protection is like going to Vegas and betting on black, only on that bet you win 30k, in a 2nd lien position what do you stand to make on a 30k short term loan? 

3) How much are you willing to bet on the current tenant moving out on time?

I would bet this one is going to make money for anyone who knows what they are doing.https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1409-N-Hill-Ave-Pasadena-...

They will make him wish he had never been born :-)https://www.wikihow.com/Report-Employers-Who-Hire-Illegal-Im...Also, based on a recent thread regarding how pretty much anyone with a pulse and eyeballs can be a contractor in PA, I would bet there is no agency to report said contractor to with any teeth to suspend their said toilet paper license. 

I hear all the time "you can't bet on appreciation."

Harder when you are newer And I bet you are already doing this but saying something like: "Hi PS here.

That’s the best bet.  

I really see Columbus Ohio as an extremely safe bet for the next 10-20 years.

If, for example, I could get hard money to purchase/repair and pay off in a year, I'm confident I could do so without loss, but only if the payments could accrue in the background, collecting interest, without being paid until the house sells.