And then look for ways where you can recycle/protect your capital (BRRRR's or flips, maybe wholesaling).  

The next hurdle is that you won't actually be able to find out if the VA will go for it until the VA appraisal done & back, and the answer may very well be "no" depending on if the VA appraiser's breakfast cereal had sour milk in it or not.

I agree with Andrew Johnson on this one, for this phase in the RE cycle.

The outside (and probably inside) is pretty bad and I am just looking for overall advice on cleaning up the junk.Are there places (scrap metal recycle?)

I have seen people grabbing recycling stuff out of garbage cans, but that type of issue in my mind is not so much a problem.

The prior owner (and this is far too often the case) has not replaced the major components of the property (either milking it as a landlord or putting it off as an owner).Then we have a "hot potato" where they sell (and often reap some appreciation) without updating the property or putting money into it.

While I could accept a minority of the blame here, based on bad judgement of my contractor driving down a soggy alley at a time they should have been more careful, the City over reaction is so typical of how it operates.For example, the majority of heavy traffic in an alley is the City owned garage and recycling trucks, plus lighter traffic from residents.

I have a general idea, such as I like to have the island about 9 ft long, so it can fit a dishwasher, sink cabinet, recycling area and a bank of drawers.

you can take money out and use it for whatever it is you want. then you have to start making payments on the interest of the amount you pulled out. if 20 yrs go by and you haven't paid it off I believe it becomes a balloon payment at that point (interest and principle due). if you have paid it off then there is nothing due. so let's say you did pay it off in 7 yrs. now you still have the original amount of the HELOC available to you for the next 13 yrs. and just recycle the scenario as needed

Use the calculator.If it doesn't cash flow,walk.Don't go beyond 75% LTV.All these boys on BP posting "success stories" and doing BP podcasts on how they went from "0 to 1000 units in 6 months" will be the first to leave the game for good.They'll all be dinner in the end.Those of us old enough to have seen more than one RE cycle see through the veil.Don't be that guy.