@Luke MooreFound the thread and I'm following it, thanks very much for posting your progress and advice, it's invaluable.My partners and I were already very interested in a similar build and I'm rooting for you!

I am blonde at the roots... 

Perhaps because my roots are Colombian I find Colombian real estate more exciting and pleasurable than my investments here in the U.S.

We will be rooting for you.

When we studied the materials we discovered why; Pete's solution is to use bleach on everything, which was a direct contradiction of the mold professionals' approach (they very clearly said not to use bleach because it doesn't kill the roots, and after the bleach neutralizes you're left with water on the mold which makes it worse in the end).In the end I feel you have to kind of pick and choose what's actually good money-saving material and what's just plain cheap.

So glad you all were rooting for me and wouldn't let me give up easily.

If you find mold, determine the root cause and address that immediately.About the other needs... did you have the property properly inspected prior to purchase?

Hi there, After a year or so house hacking between Long Beach and San Diego, CA my husband and I have just set down roots in downtown SD.

However, we found out recently that it has roots growing through the septic pipes. 

Where your cousin might be rooting for you to get the property - and might put on those rose colored glasses - a home inspector has ice water in his veins.His motivation is to not miss something that's going to get him sued.