I encourage all newbys to listen to Brin Tracy's "The Luck Factor" and you might learn that if you find someone that is having the success you want, do what they are doing, spot on, and you too will have their "Luck".Also, regarding the why people rent and rental tenants... my own belief is that it is a "risk" to buy a home, they are new to an area or don't have a job that can guarantee that they will be around more than a year at a time.

Forums are great but it is nice to have face to face interactions every once in awhile.

The last line of the letter says "you are encouraged to immediately contact code enforcement to discuss resolution."

Real estate investors that I look closely to for advice, invest for capital gains and encourage me to do so by seeking prime real estate like homes on or close to the beach, or with spectacular views, or prime real estate in prime cities. 

Lots o' folks to talk REI with.If you need a positive outlook, some encouragement or just a shoulder when you're down, "@" my name - BP will let me know and I'll come around.Not that I'm that great and all, I'm just volunteering to be here for you. 

I do not have much capital ($15K>), but I do have a starting base that is encouraging.

@Roy Oliphant  thanks for the encouragement! 

Thanks guys for the encouragement.  

I understand we made a fair number of mistakes and assumed significant risk with the purchase, my questions are,- Where do we go from here and how do we interact with the very small city who knows us by name?

I encouraged her to do so after she reads the law...AND the exemption in Florida that states a private individual may lend their OWN funds.