It costs about $200 depending on the bank and you can only do it once every year or two.I would rather hold my excess in cash and pay off the whole loan at once, but I have recast loans in the past.

The costs are not excessive and you could even pass the test this summer I would bet.

The entrance to this unit faces out from the rear of the house.There is an issue with excess moisture in this unit in particular.

and once the bank took it over after buying it back at sheriffs auction, someone came and secured the house and made sure every last window was tightly shut and sealed and this was late spring, so the house sat all sealed up through the summer and a teeny tiny bit of mold popped up in the master bath because those casement windows were rather beaten up and didn't seal 100%, a just a tiny amount of moisture got inside and made the tiny bit of mold and the REO agent who was listing the house mentioned it in the listing, but he put something like "NOTE-mold issue is master bathroom!!"

I would however pour in some waterproofing sealant on the floor to prevent upwelling of moisture. 

Risk would be high...Just one insurance claim in excess of a $5,000 deductible could sink your battleship if you do not keep cash reserves.You still need to pay for your own health insurance For every unit you own outright you get an additional $400 or so in income.

What products/methods have people used to help "soak up" dampness and moisture in a basement?

Two years of tax returns is excessive.

When doing "finish caulking" (baseboard, crown molding, door trim, ect.) the last thing you want is to be wiping away loads of excess caulking.

There will be quite a bit of overflow as the polymer is "self leveling" which forces the excess off the counter top.