I would imagine as soon as you start messing with things your Renovation budget will surpass your estimation.

Below grade is cheaper because you can pour cement walls as opposed to building 2 x 4's with insulation siding sheathing etc. second, below grade usually has a higher risk of water penetration thus making it a less desirable space.

He was clearly going through something that caused him to be distraught and you cannot imagine how deeply pained my father and I are to now see that part of his ultimate decision was inspired by things he believed he understood about us.

We also had a long list of smaller issues that can ad up prettyy quickly: for example one of the steel posts supporting the steel I-beam which spanns across the basement had been moved by a previous owner and needed a concrete footing to be poured under the basement slab.

The neighbor's clogged gutters pouring down onto my side of the yard didn't help matters...The rain turned to snow last night about 9:00, but we only got an inch or so, so that was good.

This is beyond imagination.  

I would imagine you would have The Cowboys Stadium, 6 Flags and Hurricane Harbor in the Summer?

There are many people who have a hard time imagining where furniture goes, and seeing it in there helps them see themSELVES in there.  

His response this time leaves nothing to the imagination.

It's like a sewage volcano, I would imagine it just kept backing up.