You do need to paint these once you're done with them, they really don't take stain at all and are not meant to be exposed to water. 

A guy like that should be exposed.  

That probably was never exposed to you.

We know that you don't have the ability to buy, no intention to actually buy, and your success depends solely on finding some particular buyer that is willing to pay more than all the other buyers the property has been exposed to thru the MLS.

But the one over the door might be good, the stoop would be pretty exposed without it

My comment was just that you're probably exposing yourself to $14k in taxable income you didn't have to before.I too own rental property in SD, and the tax implications of increasing cash flow is, for me, one of the contributing reasons why I chose to maintain a majority of the portfolio in SD.Sounds like you're planning to ladder up again in a couple years, though.  

Sorry if I'm exposing my ignorance, but where does one find these real estate investment groups, and what do they cover?

Contractors and architects hmm and haw about exposed trusses and beams - they are faux trusses and beams just there for decoration.

While the basement had certain pain in the @$$ attributes, in general I prefer a basement over not having one.All your plumbing, electrical, ductwork, etc. is exposed in the basement, which makes it much easier to work on.

Start to get yourselves exposed and discuss different strategies and different properties.