the cost to improve and get shovel ready for a lot not including the land is between 75k and 100k  just to do the streets and utls systems to modern standards which is generally speaking about 50k a lot  and then system development charges, which include sewer hook up water hook up park fee's school fees and so on is generally 25 to 60k per parcel..

I had all of our snow equipment serviced, our bags of salt were all stacked nicely, and snow shovelers were lined up.  

But, when it comes down to it, if the deal really is a good deal, then "a rich man doesn't complain about the price of a shovel".  

If, as another poster mentioned, you are making $25k per year, you need to invest in a "bigger shovel" to dig your way out of debt and get ahead.

These tenants do the lawn care and shoveling and do a nice job. 

I don't believe them, or I think they struck it with their shovel and broke it themselves when they didn't find what they thought they would.

When asking, there is never any obligation to answer those questions, and digging ditches with a shovel has always been more productive than with  a spoon.  

Also, think of practical things--like going there every night in winter to shovel snow, etc...

So how did you take this house in the state it was in and get it through city permitting to a shovel-ready (or sledge-hammer ready) state?

It will mean shoveling some back into place.