my father has been  a landlord for 20 years in detroit so i get to hear all about them since ive been around1 self employed people they  always fail to pay on time and leave dirt everywhere to be cleaned 2 those who turn into a life of crime and decide the unit is either a great place to distribute narcotics meth and other dangerous substances or worse they decide its a perfect place to produce drugs having the fbi lock down the unit and investigate my father this has happened 5 times now3 have had two units completely scrapped and i mean interiors gutted, copper pipes ripped heaters boilers even the shower and toilets stolen, these skin heads even tore threw the walls to steal all the electrical and hvac, needless to say they costed tens of thousands 4 one tenant decided it was a cool idea to pay for one month, then strip the entire location. once the tenant was evicted the house was burned to the ground. no charges were ever given .5 worst of all is when people die. once a drunk driver in a pickup truck drove right into the living room and killed not only himself but the tenants watching tv in the room, weve also had about 3 that i remember who we found laying dead from alcohol poisoning, the last one we payed to be sent and burried near his family  also we once had a witch doctor, this old lady disappeared after renting for a year. when we went inside the walls were covered in blood, there were rotting animals that had been cut open, candles and wax stuck all over the place. 

The main issue is most have mental illness, alcohol and/or drug problems.  

I think you and I both know that most student loan money really goes toward paying rent, alcohol, and food... 

It can be an addiction like alcohol or crack.

Essentially the only types of investments that may not be held inside an IRA or a 401k are the following:Artwork,Rugs,Antiques,Metals - with exceptions for certain kinds of bullion,Gems,Stamps,Coins - (but there are exceptions for certain coins),Alcoholic beverages, andCertain other tangible personal property.

His wife doesnt work, but i think when getting the alcohol under control she has the ability to step up.Does anyone here have links i can show him that have simple breakdowns and arguments to why he should buy (and buy right) vs rent.

I would not absolutely disqualify it based on that, but I would certainly have to be talked into it....several times....likely with alcohol involved.  

Depending on the level of the you can probably get away with wiping them down with denatured alcohol, putting some cardboard down and doing a quick paint job.  

No drugs or alcohol, but just mentally.

The other 20% are problems that are more serious and the foreclosure is only symptomatic of bigger problems (drugs and alcohol, marital, incarceration, dementia, mental illness and death).As to contacting principals, marketing means the way(s) we reach people.