And yes, real estate has helped but the foundation was controlling our spending and debt.

When you drive by, walk up to the house and take a look for potential deficiences - missing siding, a sagging roof, foundation/chain wall/visible pier and sill issues.

I called several foundation contractors.

I hope this helps describe what I want long term.Short term I want to get my foundation knowing what I need to know as far as the particulars then set on how to buy my first property SFR to rent out.

I have the same problem with a partially exposed brick foundation.

If the area doesn't have the economic foundation to rebuild, it will be go back to what it was.

There is a lot of good info on this and other aspects of rei on the forums...visit daily so you have a foundation of knowledge to work with.

Is the foundation cracked?

Any number of things could be causing it - tree roots uplifting part of the foundation, frost heave affecting foundations of different depths, differential settlement, etc.

Mike H. my intent here is not to change the minds of self educated older landlords but to educate those willing to learn the foundations and principles of real estate that most have skipped over.