I don't expect that we will collapse into chaos anytime soon, but I do expect the stock market to "crash" significantly in the coming year or two, and that that will impact the rest of the economy.

It is better to wait for the market to collapse and then buy.

A couple had actually collapsed and were exposed, the sellers solution was to plant huge bushes around it to hide it. 

They can't take down the wall themselves or they'll be in a worse position with their property (the roof will likely collapse or you could walk onto their property, etc), so it benefits them for you to sign off that you won't do anything either.

A credit card, and 25% cash returnsWhile the best strategy is "never sell" just refinance to double what you own every 7-10 years, correct timing a cycle can make you tons of money.There is  one oncoming event that no one has seen before, and should have happened already is the monetary collapse of all FIAT currencies.

But they knew the possibility that the tree could collapse again. 

(Other than looks or threat of collapse.)

Roof might fail next week for 5k and 3 weeks later a sewer line collapses for 10k.

Just depends on if the pipe is fully collapsed or open enough to be lined. 

Almost every deal I see has ARV way too high, rehab way too low...and there can be plenty of other gotchas, like no title insurance....fine until you have a problem....or you find out the comps across the street are in a better school district, or they forgot to tell you about the foundation problem, or that the gas has been turned off by the provider and won't be turned back on until all piping is replaced....or that the sewer lines have collapsed on and on and on.