And its depressing because I don't have the capital.

It's a depressed part of a high dollar area, so cost vs. rent on their scale works well.

You aren't looking for a warzone that has high crime but simply an area that is slightly economically depressed and on the way back up. 

Although the depressed economy is expected to pick up in 3+ years, we need to slim down, sell off our holdings (6 properties are for sale) and/or creatively repurpose them.  

I have read my HOA covenants and nothing covers this situation.My market is very depressed now, and pretty much everything is selling below "retail" replacement cost.

She doesn't want to entertain renting but I was thinking that I could approach her with a sandwich lease option since the market is somewhat depressed for selling right now.  

She doesn't want to entertain renting but I was thinking that I could approach her with a sandwich lease option since the market is somewhat depressed for selling right now.  

Probably some type of obsessive compulsive disorder on my part.

Question #1:Short answer:yes, usually.Longer answer:It depends upon the model that is being used.There are models, i.e. predictive tools that forecast various outcomes.Some models predict the likelihood to become 90+ Days Past Due (DPD), to declare bankruptcy in the next X moths, to open a retail credit card, to open a bank card, to open a premium bankcard, to revolve a balance, to pay down debt . . . . well, you get the picture.Most often closing a credit card does hurt one’s credit, i.e. depress a consumer’s score, because the credit card’s available credit is removed from the denominator (all credit available) that is used to calculate utilization, the mix of credit card changes (esp. negative if the credit card is a higher-end card), and one’s credit history is shortened (assuming the closed credit card has been open for some time).Question #2:The quickest way to increase one’s credit score is to use of the many outfits one sees advertised, i.e. credit repair, credit fix and one will usually see a quick bump.However, like eating candy when one is tired, one gets the sugar rush (the increased score) but there is always a crash (when the bureaus catch up to this questionable practice).

Any tips on how to determine if an area is growing or becoming more depressed?