:)Really this whole situation I'm in right now is just another reminder of "the 1/2 of the duplex that got away" ... ... like spilling lemon juice on a paper cut.

Most buildings in Maine are heated with oil, so leaks are not unusual.

Brandon mentioned Water/ mineral/ oil/ and gas rights.

Scrubbing really nasty floor grout with white vinegar and a scrub brush removed the accumulation of oil and dirt that I feared would not come off.

If not (ie two full-time working spouses) your only other option is going into land conservation deals, solar deals, or oil and gas deals - all of which have some risks.Explained in a different way...1) There are ordinary/W2/active income on one side.

When I hear stories on BP of someone spending $25K on a RE program, or some snake oil salesman ripping someone off....

They were quick to bounce back.People invest in Bay Area and Manhattan for prestige, those oil sheiks dont care if the property cash flows or not.

replace oil furnace with gas furnace with 3 zones/thermostats/loops/pumps - none of them 'slave' zones - that's what i'd do in philly

I pretty much break even w/ the house now........ after many up's and downs over the past ten years. one of my biggest setbacks is that i pay for the oil (underground tank) heat.  

@Jon Klaus $4.99It's an oiled wood, not a polyurethane finished product, giving it a matte finish.