Everyone says they want a clean place, but their definition of clean varies considerably. 

if you're pouring a foundation wall around your home you have to consider the inspections are going to be a lot harder on that home to get done and also you're limiting access for other things such as plumbing if you got gas these are all things to take into consideration when doing this the house is fine the way it is and your attempt to make it better might end up making it worse you might end up with cracks in there after a while leave alone if it ain't broke don't fix it

I've noticed a lot of times that there can be a considerable lag between advertising and the feedback you get from said advertising.  

They might have a great algorithm, but it doesn't take into consideration the elementary school abutting the backyard, the freeway a block away, an overbuilt or underbuilt house, that in some neighborhoods a pool actually is a negative value, a garage converted into a bed & bath, a one car garage in an area of two car garages, etc. etc.

As values could only rise if rents rose..

I thought this might open the door for a multifamily development with a mixed use consideration to round out the neighborhood with services.

I second @Barry Cohen and @Jean Bolger Some other considerations:  Are the lintels actually failing, or is it just that the finishes around the windows are cracked? 

If you are going through  real estate agent, you will be fineAfter contract is signed and consideration is given then yes contract is bindingas for contracts you can use here is a link i got off of Bigger PocketsWelcome to Bigger Pocketshttp://www.biggerpockets.com/files/category/contra...

Real estate market, inventory is low, making prices rise (10% in the last 12 months in areas).  

I will take all of what you said into consideration.