@Sandi Hague Yes definitely, it is in Kansas City. 

@Cody Cook Arlene Perkins (Keller Williams), Sherry Owen (Owen & Co), Sandy Webb (Coldwell Banker).The rental market is good.

Vegetation should be pruned and/or removed as necessary to maintain a one foot clearance between it and the structure's exterior.23) Exterior Limitations: Unless specifically included in the inspection, the following items and any related equipment, controls, electric systems and/or plumbing systems are excluded from this inspection: detached buildings or structures; fences and gates; retaining walls; underground drainage systems, catch basins or concealed sump pumps; swimming pools and related safety equipment, spas, hot tubs or saunas; whether deck, balcony and/or stair membranes are watertight; trees, landscaping, properties of soil, soil stability, erosion and erosion control; ponds, water features, irrigation or yard sprinkler systems; sport courts, playground, recreation or leisure equipment; areas below the exterior structures with less than 3 feet of vertical clearance; invisible fencing; sea walls, docks and boathouses; retractable awnings.

I'm not sure I can say the same of tenants, so I wouldn't want that kind of finish with tenants.If you have water come in to your unfinished basement in your home, you can keep an eye on it, and try to grade the soil or run downspouts further away.

In scenario 1 if sunk piers would always have been required based on soil type etc, then maybe again there is no negative financial component for construction.

@Keith Nugent  Yes, I've felt fortunate to live in Hood River ever since arrival, though every winter I step off the plane into Florida soil, pale and weak, I do question why to not live there. 

If it were just holding back some yard, with no structures relying on that soil, I'd rip it down myself with a jack hammer and sledge hammer.  

Hi Sandy,All of this is extremely suspicious. 

Sandy Springs, outside of Atlanta is more in the $300k-ish per door range.  

You can get a tank company to test the ground soil all around the tank to get an idea if there is leaking, but that is not 100 percent accurate.