Had to excavate and recompact the soil at the building site.

It would have cost just another week's worth of rent to bring of a load of top soil, hand spread a small bag of grass seed, cover with straw or other mulch (to reduce evaporation), and screw an inexpensive sprinkler timer to the yard water faucet. 

Rhetorical question.If the citizenship of the person is in question, do you apply Constitutional law if they are on US soil?

We are a nation of whiners and blamers now instead of one of doers and fixers.Agreed Bryan,Just because Bush is responsible for $3T+ of our debt and allowing the worst terror attack on U.S. soil doesn't mean he's the only one to blame.

The realtor says KC is built on clay soil so it's not uncommon.

@Sandy S Harris,Yes, I was out of the deal with no equitable interest in the property.

Sandy, what if you were to do the occasional flip with these funds?

Hi Sandy,So your $300k down that you are coming up with is an equity line that you have to pay interest on?   

When talking with them ask them the type of parcels they are looking for and what sort of characteristics they need such as size, location, soil types, topography.   

I have lived through Hurricane Sandy both as a resident and as a landlord.