Find a local small contractor that specializes in water damage and get them to bid the project making it crystal clear that it's you paying and not the fat wallet insurance company.

Sure, take 10,000 homes bought by investors, and do regression analysis that gives me an indication of variables that are common, like geographic area, home value, home owner's age, income level, political persuasion, gender, ethnicity, or anything else!

you can borrow with unsecured promissory note.. this is quite common..

I am contemplating getting rid of the $200 per month as well as the yard is tiny and the only cleaning is the small common area and two single bathrooms.  

Common lighting, trash, water, heat, how is that all handled?

That is usually 'substandard' and is the more common term in the escalation of problem property hierarchy.

Although I would say 30% is not common you can definitely come by those properties.  

IE the loan proceeds are in escrow and are collected funds.this is a very very common scheme all over the US.... sucker rates to sucker people into send smaller money and then wa la they are long gone.. and your ticked off that you fell for it.Use a local HML and see what rates they charge ..

My kids are waiting for a month to get an appraisal for their loan, is this common for the area ?  

Here is the problem - up to this point, the owners have been taking responsibility of repairs, maintenance, etc of the interior of their units and the HOA was responsible for the common areas.