Warren Buffett has said the Power of Compounding is one of the strongest benefits of investing.

There is enough risk and more than enough moving pieces in real estate as it is, no need to compound the risk by not having a safety net and buying with high interest debt.

Could someone have repaired/refinished the wall and took the compound down over the baseboard?

The amount of VALUE here on BP is incredible and I am sure will be compounded by your active participation! 

I’ll make sure my income from investments and REI are about double what I spend, so it’ll just compound indefinitely.As to a specific why: Being a business owner, freedom, more time.

Much had to do with a rash of established owner deaths, compounded by foreclosures piling on the "low" end, but more "normal" sales at the higher end the past year, most recent listing are right where I hope to be. 

While I have an emotional attachment to this property (I knew the deceased previous owner, and hoping to own the other two properties next to it as a little compound), I'm also ready to walk away and say this isn't right for me and my real goals in REI.

Do not compound your error by not getting legal advice to get out these squatters and their stuff.

The busts still have the sharp down turn compounded by a lack of credit that so many relied upon in the good times. 

If you wanted to compound the next one (if you found the right deal) then you could BRRR it and do it again and again.