I was considering EDDM and might later - it does cast a wide net

The big problem (according to my plumber whom I recommended to the seller and performed the repairs) is the cast iron drains, which rust and then cause leaks.

It's far more effective for me to simply cast a wider net than it is to beat my head on the same rock hoping that the 6th time I do it I won't get a headache!

Buying at auction sight unseen other than a walk around, I was stunned to see when i finally did get inside that the home had forced air heating and central air conditioning.....really lucked out there...it appears to be original because it had these big old cast iron floor grates.

I was listening to a pod cast about a tenet who killed his landlord  in south chiraq .. 

If you listen to real estate pod casts of people who were in real estate before and during that period of time, you will hear their stories of having banks close down their lines of credit.

@Ashley Cast Your desire to help is admirable.

I am nearing the end of this project and it was worth every moment I spent working.I am worried about the cast iron piping that runs under the driveways, but am budgeting replacement to avoid surprises

In Dodd Frank, they anticipated that some might carry paper to get around Dodd Frank (not that you are doing this) and therefore they also "cast their net" over seller carry backs.Most importantly, please don't rely on what I say, except to inspire you to seek legal advice (which I am not qualified to give) from a qualified attorney in this area, and structure this so it doesn't get you into legal tangles or possibly worse, interaction with the CFPB.

Slate roof (insurance company hated that, I've posted on here before), old galvanized steel or cast iron pipes that were failing piece-by-piece, old electrical with tenants complaining about tripping circuits, cracked foundations and water in the basement, and on and on.