Fire restoration = big money. 

They have even helped restore the 1926 home because they have a similar home, built in 1928, back in Indiana.

As I'm sure  you are aware, there are what most would consider Class A rentals in places like Santa Monica which have historic character, high end restorations and will be very desirable....and not have any off street parking.  

We're really good at finding deals and taking disasters of houses and turning them around quick dues to restoration background, so the best deals we find wouldn't qualify for a bank loan anyway I don't think (fire house, etc.).

In a written letter I also explained that as long as we restore them to operational condition, whether we repaired them or replaced them should be irrelevant to her.

I restored a large home in Virginia Highlands a few years ago and the best thing I did was take a lot of pictures and save at least one piece of each rotted trim detail.

The site not only motivates me to help others, but also restores my faith in humanity.

Chances are once she sees how much money it'll cost she'll be singing a different tune.Now as far as your rights as a landlord and hers as the tenant, here are a couple tidbits from the California Department of Consumer Affairs website (http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/sec-deposit.shtml):"California law specifically allows the landlord to use a tenant's security deposit for four purposes:For unpaid rent;For cleaning the rental unit when the tenant moves out, but only to make the unit as clean as it was when the tenant first moved in;For repair of damages, other than normal wear and tear, caused by the tenant or the tenant's guests; andIf the lease or rental agreement allows it, for the cost of restoring or replacing furniture, furnishings, or other items of personal property (including keys), other than because of normal wear and tear."

So I posted a few days ago about a dilemma that my wife and I were in. We inherited her dads house and decided to sell. We decided it because we wanted to cut emotional ties so we could move forward. We have received ...

I think it's due to the revitalization efforts that investors and homeowners have undertaken in some of the city's historic neighborhoods that had fallen into disrepair during the 80's and 90's.When I was at VCU in 99-2000, you wouldn't want to be anywhere near Jackson Ward, Church Hill, Oregon Hill, etc. but with the stabilized job market and the massive investment VCU has made in midtown and downtown over the last 10-15 years, all of those neighborhoods (and more) have been mostly restored to their former glory.