@Luis Ramirez1956 isn't too ancient, but you do run the risk of dealing with asbestos and lead.

Since then, I have picked up other books and the following have been inspirational for various reasons.Richest Man in Babylon by George Clayson - The principles of money that applied in the ancient world of Babylon still apply today.

Just real quick, Cuba, Egypt, FR Polynesia, Russia, China, Singapore, Viet Nam and Italy.

given the limited electrical capacity, lack of insulation, steam boiler and ancient plumbing, etc.

@Michael Evans You're still talking ancient history.

The soffits are rotten with large holes in them, there's an addition on the back that was never completed and basically looks like ancient ruins.

As I said before too, I'd REALLY REALLY emphasize that you and if you have any partners, that you check with the city of MKE as far as the work you mention this place needs and try to nail them down as to what they're going to require as far as fixing whatever in the place because one example I can give you is one home I'm soon to put on the market where it came (as an REO) with a 4 fuse fuse box and the ancient knob and tube wiring inside and while these days you really can't get ins coverage on anything with fuses, so they've been updated to breakers, you do still have a lot of knob and tube wiring around here as we have a fair amount of housing stock that's very old. 

The first time, the furnace was an ancient beast probably about 60 years old and came with the home. 

I've seen lots of small families with their garden, cow, chickens etc in Mexico, Soviet states, China, Cambodia, and most recently Egypt.

In the book, they say “he who chases two rabbits catches neither.”An ancient Chinese proverb, I guess.