Lassen) It should be a tourist haven, as it once was, but no more.Redding is much like many other areas in California, reeling from the crash of the market, and crushed by the AB109 and Prop 47, both of which have released tens of thousands of criminals back onto the street, many of them violent offenders.

An idea to protect your interest:  Depending on what the monies will be used for;  (example:  $ for the renovation);  you can escrow the funds w/ a 3rd party (Title company, lawyer) that would only release funds after work is completed & inspected.  

Press releases, videos, articles, web 2.0 sites, link pyramids, rss feeds, wiki posts, social bookmarking, social networking, profile submissions, etc. 

I would take this property at a fire sale price from him, I would use an option and never close on it, I would flip the contract and get paid a release fee for doing so. 

And as an investor is there anything I can do in this situation other than buying the prop out right and re-leasing it to the current tenants?

If the budget is not there for the number of vans you want, maybe cut down the number of vans and extend it a couple extra months.  

We are in the business of extending credit, you could say .I don't want to marry them, I want to find out if they are a good "credit" risk! 

I'm new here, too but thought I'd extend a warm welcome.

when you have turn over you usually lose a month. and you need to factor in releasing fee of one months rent as well

The lender will not reconvey title and release the lien without being paid in full...to include the payoff amount, not just the principle balance which could be a HUGE difference.