If you compromise then you will keep running into goofy tenants. 7.

Stick to it , do not compromise to make applicant fit.The higher you set your credit requirements the higher quality the tenants.

Is it worth compromising to build equity? 

Your deceased tenant's family could show up and put you in a compromised position.Most states that have statutes require items to be marshaled for several weeks.

Are you compromising on acquisition criteria? 

I was worried, thinking that the structure might have already been compromised, and surmising that the blocks were placed there to prevent further degradation of the wood or the supporting beams.

In this case you end up compressing your quality of life and living in a 4-plex, or something.Another way of looking at it, though, is not to make compromises and aim to improve your quality of life.

A compromise could be that you do the screening for the current owner.

You have to send out a Notice of Quit for Non-Payment of rent, therefore, you have to have a rental due date and you can't waiver, or be wishy washy regarding the due date, because you change the due date if you try to compromise with the Tenant.   

By all means, it's not a bad area to live, and I'm not bashing on the beloved SFV, there are really awesome parts of SFV that are great - it's just a compromise of an area.