I can also get free rocks to lay in the yards, which is a common decoration in my city.

I've found some in Round Rock for $70Kish.

Once I have a good tenant I don't want to rock the boat.

Some children you can give a rock to them and an hour later it is dust.

I would suggest you speak directly to a local Appraiser and see what rocks their boat.

I'd spend more time working on Plan B and less time defending the feasibility of lease/options.

It appears the house was framed initially, then the code changed and 2x6's are required on outer walls, so they actually built a matching frame, attached steel bands in a criss-cross pattern to cross-brace, and attached the newly framed outer wall to the existing.

(Primarily due to refinancing several years ago when we lived in that property and mortgage rates had hit rock bottom.)Something to keep in mind is that once you have a free and clear property you can take out a HELOC against it and you are now a "cash" buyer for the next property, with all of the advantages that entails.

Everyone was jumping on the lending band wagon back in 2004-2006.Should there be any concern about the rate of lending skyrocketing again?

Welcome from Round Rock Matt!