The inspector pointed out the following:- Clogged gutter(s): one had tree roots growing inside- Caulking and/or cementing needed on outside of the house to seal gaps- Filthy crawlspace with water intrusion (possibly due to clogged gutters).

Older installations were done over regular drywall rather than cement board (Duroc) which was very prone to deterioration.

It is Cement Block Constructed and was used is light industrial.  

Do it on a warm day so the cement can seal up properly and you can enjoy the sun. 

I spent 1 month there back in the early '80's on my Aust. passport & also picked up a little of Russian by necessity.One intriguing issue I found in coastal construction, particularly the various early 1920's Mansions, was the structural failure of the cement used.

If you are going to focus on that area try and find properties close to school that have cemented in the community for awhile.

If you want to go with a FHA loan you'll probably need to either get a cement foundation or retrofit which adds to the cost.

By the looks of it i would say your Dad is right, it looks like the concrete has deteriorated due to water. you do not need a foundation co. just hire a mason to cement it back up inside, but first take care of the cause on the outside, get that leader pipe to drain away from the house by either extending the pipe above ground or dig a shallow trench and run a pipe under ground away from the house. also make sure the soil around the house is pitched away so that water moves away from the house.

I am getting quotes now to determine if it is more cost effective to carpet (making it living space) or just paint the cement floors a solid gray (for a general purpose / storage area).

Apparently Code required each pier to be on cement pylons (below the frost line) & given the 15inches of clearance it required the flooring to be torn up.