Always looking for ways to improve the ARV, and have one upgrade that I'm on the fence about.The gas boiler for this 1920's house is pushing 40 years old.  

Some push back on price, but if they do, that means that they aren't the right tenant for us. 

It's like pushing a person who does not know how to swim into an olympic size swimming pool.

I know at Fort Lee, VA there were very strict rules on what facilities qualifed for permitted TDY housing.Also, there have been a lot of changes to the DTS system and the Army is pushing hard to get people into the IHG facilities on post FIRST.

I have set my eyes on starting my career in Los Angeles, but I haven't fully committed for fear that the potential of a newbie getting washed out in a market as big and as fast-paced as LA.

I'm always reading and trying to learn more, but build to rent keeps pushing it's way to the forefront in my mind.

It's possible that the tax bill will end up being a wash if you can count taxes paid abroad against your US tax bill, but I'd suggest finding a CPA with plenty of experience with the Chinese system and how it intersects with IRS regs. 

Now, your soil profile will not change that dramatically over your life time... and if a couple of inches of topsoil washes away, it will not affect the pile.

Was he licensed and insured when you hired him? 

You'd have to add at least five 0's to that $1k to even start to be able to buy something here, and even that could be pushing it.