If you install during the hotter season you risk the floor most likely gapping and coming apart during the winter or buckling during the inverse.If you are set on some type of hard surface flooring a dehumidifier could help reduce some of the risk for the time being, since changes in humidity and moisture are actually what cause expansion and contraction not temperature, they usually are just tied hand in hand.The larger the room the more the floor will move.

It's 1200sq ft (probably more because it certainly didn't feel like 1200 sq ft when we looked around) sold as-is with special warranty deed and on the surface there are very little cosmectic problems with the house except for the carpet and walls and one moisture damaged window.

Be gentle!

If you do find a current owner's address be gentle and as professional in your approach as you can be. 

Often this is causedby years of settling....the "piers" that hold up the floor have failed or moisture andwater damage have made the floor joist sag!...

This is caused by the combination of moisture and a substrait for growth.

I take that to mean the value of the property in regard to cash flow and appreciation and debt paydown VS. my 25% down payment doubled (from 0% to 100%) then doubled again (from 100% to 200%) and so on to a factor of 10, which basically beats the pants off of say, investing that $50,000 in stocks and seeing a 5% per year increase, for a total of 150%, or a factor of 1.5.My question is, am I misinterpreting something, or do leveraged returns really skyrocket like that even in a gently-appreciating housing market?

They're kinda like the big black guy in "green mile" super sweet and gentle, unless you [b]really[/url] tick them off, and they are usually really good with kids.

But at the same time scary here some of the issues:-Wiring/Electric issues: there were double taps and too small cables used-Standing water in half of the backyard (every time it rains harder according to the tenants)-One of the AC units is from 2003-AC air ducts are moldy-AC pipe in addict are crushed, insulation broken, taped with lots of air leaving-No drip pan and turn off switch for airhandler (2001) in one unit-Too little insulation-Moisture in the addict-Missing firewalls between the two units-One unit has copper pluming the other unit has recently received PEX, but where the wall was cut open to replace plumbing has not been closed and you can see lots of mold, mice droppings -One of the water heaters is sitting in water and mold on PVC and is rusting and leaking.

@Eric CreagerI dont know of a specific resource but in general you want to look at the big ticket items first.Foundation - cracks, settling, moisture (basements)Roof - age remaining life, condition- missing shingles, leaks improper valleys and flashing Hvac -age useful life left.