When it starts to look rough with areas of drying out and serious curling and splitting I replace it before it leaks.

Plaster of Paris (takes a little practice) for the deep areas, finish plaster for the top, both dry fast and sand smooth, you're on your way.

I would think so, its very dry and sunny.

It's cheaper to soak and cook dry beans over eating canned beans, just saying!

3bd/2b upstairs, 1400 sq ft with attached 2-car garage; stairs lead to finished basementfinished basement: 900 sq ft, 1bd/1ba where bedroom doesn't have closets; but is fairly large spaceheating/cooling control: not sure if top/bottom have separate controlsmeters (gas/water/electric): just 1 for whole houseLocation: schools are 4/3 rating, but on top of a hill with Bay Views. 0.5 mi from 80E freeway (one downside is you hear freeway from yards but not from inside house)accepted offer price: $906K with 20.5% down, requires $9K of dry rot repairs, and $5-$15K to move washer/dryer connection lines into garage so that both top and bottom units have laundry access.  

You don't need a CG - you just need someone to do the work; dry wall, painting, carpentry and plumbing.

@Cole Raiford my powder is dry and ready; but I am not at all expectant.

I guess my question is are you long term bullish buy and hold on Detroit (and if so what do you see as driving the positive change), or are you planning to get in and get out before the market turns and the money coming in from outside the city dries up?

@Marin Diaz The thing I like the most about these are the fact you can have them completely dried in in a week after the slab is poured.

Here are some of the pros and cons to fresh-water vs dry lots I've learned:Freshwater Lots:- Cost about $3-5k more than dry lots- Rent about the same as dry lots - possibly $25-$50 more at most right now- Usually an additional $5k for the developer to construct a 4:1 grade in the backyard down to the canal in lieu of a seawall- The same model on a canal lot has been selling for roughly $15-$20k more than a dry lotSo all that to say, you'll pay more up front for a freshwater lot.