Rental properties are specifically excluded from the tax credit so it's not clear how this purchase would be classified for everyone and since you're using association funds it's not clear who gets the tax credit if there is one allowed.

@Maurice Burnett  the issue with closets and bedrooms is the city may still classify it as a 3 bedroom for tax purposes regardless of closets. 

You need to make sure everyone in the deal is doing something so it does not get classified as a security.

Just trying to figure out if there is any benefit to combining these lots, besides resale value and being able to classify our home as 'waterfront' with creek frontage.

There is a meetup section of the biggerpockets forums you can find under 'Real Estate Classifieds.'

You can use zillow and just call the number and ask if they are interested in acquiring more rental properties.The classifieds section of bigger pockets and facebook groups can help too.

You're remark about Detroit and saying "all the houses their [sic] looks like they have been burnt down."

I think if you post this in the "loans" or "real estate classifieds" page you may get more responses.

Understandably, local RE agents are loathe to classify neighborhoods according to desirability (IE:A,B or C) for fear of running afoul of “steering” laws so it’s very helpful to know that FIELD and NORTHROP are A & B neighborhoods.

@Don KonipolI'm not sure why you classify Mexico as unstable sincet's been very stable politically for a long time.