Now none of these solves the issue of access if he is not comfortable letting people in if he isn't home.

Before solving the foundation you might want to get to the root cause of the foundation issue and resolve it, otherwise you might repair the foundation for nothing. 13.

After my research, this is certainly the method I feel comfortable with in the current stage of the market cycle, but am I also open to suggestions about branching out into occasional flips and other ways to build even more capital.

I think this method is risky, as anyone can ruin the place without an agent as chaperone.

You may be able to use the brrr method and get your money back out of these 2 deals, and still cash flow a decent amount after adding an additional $171 to your primary mortgage payment. 

There's a good house that would probably be a good option for the BRRRR method near us.  

Long story short they guy spent thousands of dollars on a french drain system when just regrading could have helped. 9/10 times regrading would solve this.

I would like to know if there is a method to properly and fairly analyze the correct offer for a cash deal.

There's not a prescribed method for your accountant to use. 

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