LOLI also made a good living following those “schlock houses” and cleaning up after them.Right now I’m buying full gut jobs.

Those taxes are usually collected from the guest and the paid to the appropriate authorities...a "pass-through" cost, like a cleaning fee.

Money is not best spent on “free, clean injection sites”

Been a lot of work this summer/spring cleaning it up be we are making good progress.

I will do a lot of stuff myself, painting, cleaning, tearing out old carpet, etc.

I would be more concerned about clean title in this scenario than seeking to utilize a self-directed IRA... and am surprised that this issue was not first addressed by other respondents... for example, a defaulted mortgage based on "assignments" created by MERS "Vice Presidents" litter land records in every courthouse in America. 

It’s been rented since I’ve purchased in 2014, but my last tenant just moved out, and after cleaning up I realized how much I dislike what I’m offering and I feel I need to do better.

One block is beautiful, safe, clean, old early 1900's colonials and victorians, and LITERALLY one block away there's gunfire because two gang members got into a disagreement about something. 

I had the kitchen rebuilt, entire house cleaned and repainted within one weeks time.

I just cleaned one out today, and there was a dresser in the basement with a drawer full of gold coins.