Also, you build up "political capital" when people see you've worked your butt off to get to where you are - suddenly, they feel much more comfortable working with you or lending money your way.  

It's not just flooding/storm surge risk, but also the increased taxation that will be necessary in able afford to the necessary infrastructure improvements.

All of a sudden the rent gets behind, someone leaves (usually not the one you want to leave) and it's just a big old mess.And frankly, we are starting to pass up friends who want to rent together, andgoingto the next application.

For us, it seemed less a function of AMs suddenly being ready to dump as it was an slight uptick the week before in properties that we could be aggressive on.  

There is no such thing as money suddenly appearing once you find a deal.You said you "think" rent could be raised.Consider what the bank is looking at right now.

Thanks I'll give them a try, I just either want this condo gone( I assumed by now it would have been) or be able to save it and start turning around everything, I had originally bought it to live in for a few years then make it an investment property but between losing job and having to start over and then now 2 kids it's been years of grinding and suddenly I'm 32 and would love to by a home for my family now.

Check online at the county site to be sure they are licensed and insured..tell them you will have a written contract... no handshake deals....do not deal in cash it messes up your accounting really fast...tell them you will match up every receipt you get with materials on the job...lastly I have had good contractors who all the sudden be it  the drugs or alcohol or whatever kicked in and then they just stopped being good and ripped me off so references are ok but just be aware some of these guys change seemingly overnight 

I suddenly love Ohio - who knew...

In some cases, a good property provider may suddenly become not so good - perhaps due to a sickness or death in the family or some kind of stress they are facing. 

This will also scare off some of the shady ones and may also suddenly turn a $750 bid into a $599 bid!