That way I didn't have to sit on it for a few months while it sold. 

Jeff I also hate seeing all that equity just sitting there but you really need to look at where else you can put that money to work that will out-earn the current investment.

I would love to sit down with you while you’re here in February and talk more.

In my experience, something like that might cause the home to sit on the rental market longer to find a tenant that is ok with overlooking that deficit. 

If I were wildly successful in implementing any strategy, I would keep quiet about it and enjoy my life.It's like the tale about the gold miners in California during the Gold Rush of 1849:  the only ones who made real money were the ones selling the tools and supplies to the miners.  

For some they just want a quiet piece of land to spend time with family and a rocking chair on the porch.

I am a contractor and we live in a great neighborhood so the house would be a great investment if we can purchase at the right price. as it sits the house is prob worth 100-150k.

Similarly, if the house sits on expansive clay on one side of the house. the clay could lift that side of the house and caused the cracking.

Right now my debt is sitting at around 154k (8k outstanding interest payments). 

While the real estate market usually slows down this time of year, we are seeing a lot of buyers taking advantage of homes that have been sitting on the market longer.