I had to learn how to build oak stairs, with iron railing.

Columbus has a huge chip processing plant being built on the east side so that would be a good target area to look at investing if you can. 

I'm considering a goal chart to keep my focus on chipping away at the core goals and a reasonable measure of time. 

@Erika Geoffrey, I am a local agent and investor in Utica new york. we are a small but growing citie of about 80k people with lots of new economice development ($500M Hospital, $500M auto chip manufacturing plant, as well as over 2M sqft of new WH and distribution space.I would love to talk to anyone more and discuss the opportunities here.  

Sure, it would be great if neighbors chipped in, but no law requires it (deed restrictions aside).

I was planning to chip away at the balance/keep making payments for those 10 years but this year (Year 5 of) with the interest rates being so low I just cashout refinanced and paid off all the HELOC's down to zero.

Kitchen appliances have been updated, but look like original 80's oak cabinets and laminate countertops.

Also, on hot days the cabinets will stick and could possibly chip in the high spots. 

The ceilings walls & oak floors were all ruined.

If we have nice oak trim throughout the entire house in good condition I may leave that.