Simply screwing, nailing, or bolting the deck together (butt-joint style) is NOT good enough to hold together load bearing decks since over time they weaken and snap at the most inopportune moment.Back in 2003 a Chicago area deck collapsed - killing thirteen.

Dealing with the problems themselves is one thing, but I'm really struggling to not collapse emotionally.

I think.You don't want to be responsible in the unlikey event of a collapse.

I've seen some where the studs were literally collapsing into a powder from rot.The last one we did was an old 60's era cast iron tub that we had refinished several times (about $280/treatment) but it peeled.

If a property has massive problems that can't be seen from the road, (blocked by trees, carports, etc.) that could be seen if I just got out of the vehicle and did a small look over, then I would rather find it right then and there and not after attempting to contact the owner.In fact, here's a prime example: One of the properties today had an entire collapsed backside and deck that was out of view from the front.

That scenario would lead to the collapse of the economy and massive capital flight.

The roof was leaking in multiple areas, the ceilings had collapsed, HVAC non functional, plumbing non functional.

If the deal collapses and I would lose everything, I'm out.

Did you own any property in the 2008 Collapse of our Economy, when property values in Tampa lost 60% in two years?

Such setup does not pass a smell test as far as "for profit" operation and will collapse if audited.If there was an easy way to convert suspended passive losses into deductible non-passive losses, we all would've been doing it by now.