@Steve LehmanChange is sure messy. :)

For example, no messy cars.

It could get messy.

We finished the upstairs unit and the downstairs unit was still quite messy.  

That excludes FHA and VA loans, except the messy FHA 203K.In an old home, you're dealing with construction that's not up to code, like knob & tube wiring with fuses instead of breakers, outdated plumbing, leaky fieldstone foundations, etc. 

I've considered direct mail to small MFH owners in a target area but that's the thing that holds me back from spending the money--I'm not convinced there are a lot of MFH owners with equity who are motivated to sell--and if they are it's because the property is a hot mess. I

That can get very messy as you can easily violate your fiduciary duties to your client.

I've seen this kind of messy inspection report before.  

@Meghan McCallum  He may be a terrible contractor but you hired him and therefore bear some of the blame for the messy situation you're in.  

I did our home many years ago, and it was quite messy.