I'm wondering if it is more affordable to tear down a dilapidated mountain home and recycle its foundation and utilities, rather than buy a plot of land and develop it.

If that's the case then there is your answer right there.It seems like most things are leaning you towards selling it if you are worried about being able to afford any unwanted repairs or capital expenditures, and if selling it allows you to get into a nice new house hack (if that's where you go) then you can live for free or at least cut your living expense way down.

If the Tenant refuses to participate then that demonstrates they are not subject to the protections afforded renters that were impacted by COVID.

I had a lot of friends at that time that were more than happy to rent a room in a house at an affordable rate.

If that was the case, there is no way I could financially afford to go the section 8 housing route. 

@Patrick Thomas DickinsonYou’ll find affordable homes in the Midwest and may be able to get a few small multi family and have a property manager manage them.

The Raleigh triangle area is very hot and prices have rapidly rose, I don’t think rents have caught up there yet.Columbus and Indianapolis on the other hand are more affordable and have a lot of room for rapid growth which is why they’ve been so hot over the past 24 months.

I recommend you reach out to a good Mortgage Broker and get pre-qualified first to see how much you can afford and where to buy.

The market right now is so hot and it seems like I can not afford a house with the current situation, maybe another year.

Trying to find the best rates I can.My logic for asking these questions is to talk to someone who can tell me what I am able to afford: get a pre-approval letter.