I'm tackling REI as a means to retire early first, build wealth second.

Or are people scared to tackle certain properties that look that bad?

This is the biggest project we've ever tackled and a lot is riding on it.

Congrats on tackling those 2 rentals.

They can help you develop a budget and a plan on how to tackle this issue. 

So while it seems innocuous, it has serious repercussions.Having your sister on the loan MAY satisfy this agreement, but absolutely check with your mortgage lender. 

The sweet spot would be to partner up with the owner of a construction company (or someone who knows the rehab business really well) and tackle it together.

Don't tackle a job you don't know even if the owners say "It's ok".

Don’t build the Taj Mahal in Miami Gardens because you are not going to get Taj Mahal buyers or Taj Mahal money.I was so broken by this expensive proposal that I decided I could tackle some of the fixes myself and just hire these guys or another GC, for the tasks that absolutely required a license.

So if you want to tackle it, don't listen to the naysayers (unless the numbers don't work of course, then listen) but go for it.I'm rooting for you!