Account Closed  drag is related to angle of attack.. got to attack these notes  LOL

I think you will have to decide with your wife the best plan of attack, and if you can do any of the renovations yourself, that might make the most sense. 

Good luck and please don't attack someone personally that's trying to help.

I think thieves case the house before attacking it.

I see you have been working very hard had strategically planning your attack.

But a three prong attack wouldnt hurt

If something happens (dog attack, etc.) is the landlord liable?

How many Investors could say that they were virtually unaffected by 1) The Stock Market Crash of 2001 where Nasdaq lost 66% of it's value that year, 2) The 9/11 Terrorist Attack in NYC where my Properties are located 3) the Great Recession.

I'll start with the most glaring, again - as I see it, so don't take this as a personal attack if I'm direct.      1) You said in part, "...one thing this COVID crisis has taught me, is that I would have a lot more piece of mind, if I knew that at least half of my rentals were paid off so I could absorb a loss of rents for a long period of time if it comes to that".You are talking about paying off a 4.5% loan (which you have already qualified for and paid closing costs, etc, for) with CASH (Hard-earned, or cash borrowed at a slightly lower rate). 

I thought I was going to have a heart attack :-)The best thing I can tell you is to make sure you have “some†out in your contracts (i.e. subject to house inspections) or make the damages as low as possible (i.e. $100 deposits) Now with bank owned properties you need to put up $500 at a min.I typically purchased 3 - 4 houses per month (1-2 REO’s and 1-2 lease option cooperative assignments).