This has got to be one of the dimmest, easily solvable predicaments I've read on here 

I just winning a bid and very regret. 

I used to use the method for years as a Florida Private Banker for wealthier clients that were susceptible to law suits and could relatively easily pay off the line.

But I could easily make this a 3 bed, 2 bath within the existing sq ft. 

This also allows for property owners to more easily write-off assets that get damaged/destroyed as the value of these assets is determined as part of the study.

So the Janitor usually wins, defined as making more passive income than your expenses, because his expenses start off so low and stay low.Unfortunately, after you play it a while, you get to know what to look for, like when that one stock becomes available for, I forget, $3 or something ...

Always plan for more than one way to win.

You can easily wire a second thermostat in parallel to the one the tenant uses and have it preset to a floor temperature.

It also gave me a month to order furniture and think through the decorations and line up contractors so all in all, it was a win to keep the rentals. 

You can spend $150-200k and easily hit 1%.