The house is only a block away from ours, and I walk by it every day going to and from the school where I teach.  

Hi @Andy ArgonautRent to Own, Id rather call it "Lease then own".Lease Purchase Advantages For Buyers Low money down to get into property.Qualification restrictions are not as great as in conventional financing.Past credit problems are not usually a road block, as they would be in the case of conventional financing procedures.

That could be a stumbling block for friend.

It is more important to me to be building those building blocks than getting the once in a life time deal. 

The neighborhoods change block to block in some cases. 

You are usually blocked on doing anything if you are waiting on a survey.  

I purchased my home 4 years ago in Montgomery county Pennsylvania. it needed a lot of renovations which took me a year to complete. I have had the itch to find my next property as soon as I finished the renovation. Wh...

Seems like every block has its nuances, so culturally diverse!

I'm not sure what your ultimate goal or strategy is but typically you are looking for the worst house on the best block.

The measurements work out, as there is sufficient width in the lot while maintaining the standard setback distance on the block.