The situation is truly terrible, and Lahaina has been destroyed.

It puts peer pressure on everyone to pay their rent and not destroy the house, because they all get evicted if one moron does something. 2.

@Jeff Herber   Yes....I have a system....first is paring down the properties....trying to eliminate the stuff I don't want....then with what is left start looking at the properties...again trying to pare down the list ...for the most part I don't like small lots in dead towns and don't like mobile homes...I don't like houses that are completely destroyed...no windows/no doors etc...I probably have some other criteria too....no landlocked, rare do I like anything with no address....all kinds of other issues...typically I don't like partial ownership....in my area they will sell 20% interest and such....unless it is dividable or worth the effort.Once I do all that, then start looking at values and exit strategies.....so more parring down......Then I look at title issues..liens etc....and trying to figure out why it is for sale.All this starts when I get the lists 30-45 days before sale.When I get a much smaller list, then I go see the property....and check bidding requirements....some of our counties require 5-10 day prior registration.Then I call the county 1-2-3 days before the sale to make sure property is still in the sale.   

To answer your question: Yes, the vapor retarder will stop most moisture from the ground from destroying your joists and rotting them out.

If you do manage to successfully charge them for this repair, they're going to go rig whatever breaks next time, and next time, and next next time, until they've destroyed your place completely, and then they're gone as soon as their cousin has some space for them in a real slum hellhole.You've gotta be on top of it, and you've got to be seen to be on top of it, and they can never be allowed to form the impression that you're Mr.

One really has to weigh the benefits of a steady, somewhat guaranteed rental stream against the headaches and stresses that inevitably come with the babysitting these tenants to make sure they are not destroying your property.

I realize that there is a cut off time for new purchases before a storm but if let's say you get in before that, close the deal, but the hurricane destroys the property before the deed and mortgage get recorded in the public records, then who is on the hood for the damage?

In fact, if their feelings are destroyed by an honest answer to what they asked, most likely they wont make it in this brutal business anyway.

This event would have destroyed a lot of areas, TX & Houston will recover from this and emerge stronger than before.

This guy just does not get it, he has been told over & over its risky and a challenge, and count on any couple dozens of reasons something goes sideways and destroying your plans.