On the other side of the equation both rental and resale inventory is limited so there may still be some steam left to push up rents and house prices. 

A ballot initiative is gaining steam to raise taxes on properties valued at more than $3 million.

Some people hold it in and blow barely anything out, others it looks like a freight train letting off steam.

GM has regained steam and has added a lot of jobs over the past years.As for property taxes, you can find properties with a lower taxable value, you just have to look.

Windows should be used for lighting only though, ventilation should always be done via exhaust fan, opening a shower window just creates more moisture/steam etc and creates additional problems.

Even if you fill them with sand, unless they have been steam cleaned - which is very unlikely - there will be residual oil in the tanks and lines which will eventually make its way into the soil as the tanks deteriorate.

Combine that with the fact that you've already proven yourself by creating $21K (enough to support you for a year based on your reported lifestyle) in less than a month and I would say that you should use your full head of steam and make REI work for you!

BTW:  That so called 'drain line' is actually a line from a steam pop-off value to protect from a runaway heating cycle- - it's on TOP of the heater and can't possibly assist in draining the tank;  that's what the hosebib is for at the Bottom of the tank.

That said, if we went full steam ahead, we could probably build an SFR from scratch in about three months.

I agree with the appove, clean your house and steam clean the carpets.