The current status of the market is low end rentals land lords that let the houses look like crap. 

I also paid interest on the loans.Is the utilities for the house that is completed and rented a expense deduction for the year or does it go into the basis?

This comes from a 2017 City document, but it seems to be current.http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca1/groups/ceda/documents/report/oak050966.pdfA real pity, with the severe lack of housing in Oakland. 

Also, as long as the house appraises, taking broker commission and using it against down payment and closing costs means lower cash requirements for me which increases my CoC returns.

I have investor friends in LA area offering temporary free housing.

@Keith Mintz Will you be running the house or leasing to a company that does sober living.

Charleston, South Carolina's housing market continues to exhibit growth and competitiveness.

Quote from @Edgar Duarte: hi allI would love to get some perspective from your expertise, we have a property that we would have to sell in 2025 to avoid paying taxes on the capital gains, we believe we rcan sell it for $700K and get an equity of almost $500K after paying the mortgage balance, if we invest all of it option in index funds at 7% rate (standard com growth calculator), or in more rental properties as we are all here for, I can get the equity of around $900K.option B would be keep paying the house at 2.3% int rate while we have it in AirBnB and maybe sell it in 10 years for $900K, knowing that we would be paying taxes but it is not that bad still. or we can 1031 at that point?

Are you planning to sell the house after you finish the rehab or rent it out? 

Suggesting to them buying their house for a wholesale range offer or lower dependent on the extent of the rehab, then having a contract in place that gives them a percentage of the profit to help get them back on their feet, paying off debts etc.