Awesome post David, thank you.I think Jim Grant said it well when referring to treasuries, he called them "return free risk" ;)  It's so true though, price discovery is out the window when the cost of money, or one half of every transaction, is manipulated.  

The core of republicanism was liberty, a precious but precarious birthright constantly threatened by corrupt manipulations of power.

I am wondering if a landlord of a 3500sq/ft, 4unit, section 8 compliant property can program the furnace thermostat to a specific temp (say, 70 degrees) and tenants wouldn't be able to run the bill up?

Unchecked emotions leave us vulnerable to potential manipulation.

There's really no manipulation you can do.  

Until you learn what you need to do here, hire a payroll service, or payroll your crew through a temp agency that will have workers' comp insurance, etc.   

There are some costs in a SFR that can get passed to the renter, water fees, in some cases condo fees include heat (heating costs are lower when the tenant is writing the check each month vs turning up temp when it's cold outside), yard maintenance etc.

My "deal" is an acquisition of a Class C- multifamily property in Tempe that I would purchase with short term construction financing, renovate and refinance into perm debt and try to recapture all or part of the initial equity. 

Depending on the age of the house, if it has been open for that long, anything copper is probably long gone.Depending on the size (temp) and location of the fire, it is possible that some or all of the brick is compromised. 

I am always looking to chat with like minded people and would love to meet up with investors who would be willing to pass on any wisdom on the Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, and Chandler markets!