Built a new master bath, added a 2nd 1/2 bath upstairs, all new kitchen with granite etc etc, plus removed a 13ft wall between the kitchen & Living Rm.Cost of wife & I doing it ALL $65k, just for materials, permits, inspections.

I let tenant know they can be there or not, but to remove any thing valuable as I’ll be there but can’t be responsible for their personal property.

Squatting is 100% illegal and we shouldn't need a court order to remove someone attempting to steal our property (or the use thereof).

We remove the Supra box before the appraiser comes and inform him that he has to let us know when he is coming.

We had to have a contractor remove it, patch and repaint the wall.

lol haha I wish. my health insurance may be needed to take remove the 2x4 from a specific part of my body as that is what this contractor is trying to do to me

With our VA "safety rails" removed, I read through David Greene's books Long-Distance Real Estate investing and purchased a multifamily property in Illinois.

4) Would there ever be a benefit to approaching the current owner and offering to buy the property from them, and pay their property tax, which would remove it from the tax sale?

Tenant was evicted legally, filed for write of possession since tenant was still there, sheriffs office came out and removed the tenant.

If you can go for a year and not loose money you should be able to sleep soundly at night.