I suspect renovation costs are higher in CA especially $500K neighborhoods. 

Once you have a ratified contract, I strongly suspect you will get a very different response. 

Your in Cali, so I am suspecting it must be pretty high.

Inherited tenant, prime suspect in the deaths of two husbands and attempted poisoning of a third.

If it is, have a contractor come out and replace the bad tiles, if your experienced enough you can do it yourselfI have no idea when they were installed and suspect difficulty in finding replacements. 

I suspect the person who made the 200k second if the first goes into default ( never mind there is no equity) probably does not or will not cure and they just let some borrower rip 120% of his cash out of his deal.. so no real motivation to hang in there. other than maybe their credit.

I suspect you can find properties for under $200K but not sure if they would have everything you are looking for.

Otherwise I suspect you are just going to get wrapped up in a bunch of stories and nonperformance.

As far as making tenants responsible for drains, suspect that could lead to more problems, I had several dump nasty chemicals in drains in the past, that can cause all kinds of problems.           

Project:1500sf full remodel, from studsnew roof trusses and roofingsmall front additionnew windows and exterior sidingand all new systems and interior surfaces, fixtures, and cabinets, etcI am looking for:* reasonable window dealers for Marvin Integrity windows* lumber yard and Hardieplank supplier with best pricingThen all the usual other suspects:* electrician* plumber* framers* drywallers* cement board exterior siding installers (Hardieplank)* Roofer* Flooring installersThat's all for now.TIA