"Creative" is a term that should be used sparingly in an eviction.

The ground underneath has now settled, so have them build up with 4" of gravel and compact it.

You could also use the same strategy by buying a house and renting out the spare bedrooms to cover your expenses and help pay the mortgage.

For example you get 1k per room plus split costs and you have 2 spare rooms vs 2k for the entire property if you just rented it out.Then revaluation when you rotate out and either sell (tax free gains ) or keep renting out rooms...

For example,I do currently have a vacancy as one of the rooms was destroyed by the last tenant down to the subfloor but I'm getting it fixed on my own in my spare time for less than 1 month's surplus. 

@Charlie Moore As a rule of thumb you'll find that once you get over 20 units it get difficult self-manage in your spare time. 

Currently, both spare rooms are rented out at 75% of the mortgage. 

As a matter of fact I know there's at least 20 or so threads here on BP where I've told people they need to go out & drive for Uber in their spare time while stacking cash for their next down payment on a rental property.

Do not be afraid to cold call some of these smaller apartment complex owners in your spare time.

We both lived in it for a year and a half and found a mutual friend to move in with us for added rent since there were two spare bedrooms not being utilized.