We must cut out the sidewalk for a second driveway which gets the county involved.

The issue comes in with other investors paying ridiculous prices just because deals are slim.Since you are doing a major reno, don't forget your sidewalk fee :-).

So, if you have the down, and the deal is good enough, maybe you can sweet talk them, or hit the sidewalk till you find a banker/broker that can make an exception.Other than that, I'm not aware of any magic.  

I have a four-family house in Stamford that has a small yard, a handful of bushes/plants, and a 5-10 yard sidewalk up to the front door. 

We had some challenges with the city sidewalk and road construction and it will not be complete till approx.

I now have a new metal building with a driveway and a beautiful sidewalk. 

Also inspect the foundation for water intrusion, and driveway sidewalks for cracks. 

Beyond its space-age glamour, rising like a cratered moon from the Sunset Boulevard sidewalk, the form carried function; the theater was engineered for films made in a special format designed to be shown on its extra-wide curved screen.

They're arguably not "attached" enough to the structure to mandate 27.5 year treatment.As far as tax books, the better books in my opinion are:Nolo's Every Landlord's Tax Deduction GuideLasser's Real Estate Investor's Tax EdgeThey DO have specific lists of 5 year (appliances, window A/C, carpeting and floating flooring NOT glued/cemented/nailed, drapes/blinds, and 15 year property (shrubbery/landscaping, fences, sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, etc.)

What are you doing with the railing in front for the staircase to the porch The front porch looks unfinished needs direct walk way to the stairs from the sidewalk or some step stones maybe?