I would suggests you leave it, tell the tenant to put a poster over it, and tell them you need them to add a bit to their security deposit to cover it at move-out.

The sewer line was apparently not built to code in the first place, but the drain line is starting to collapse under the weight of the neighbor's cars (they park mainly in the driveway but also in their yard directly on top of the sewer line).

The security was about 4 hours away.

Security deposits, etc. 

What strategy did you use while you were unable to secure financing?  

In case I cannot find one that accommodates to my situation both in price and location in the given time, should I continue renting through short-term leases until I find that deal, or purchase a single family home or condo/co-op to secure a place to live for the next couple of years until I decide to either sell it or move and rent it out? 

(There may be longer fixed-rate products, I'm just not aware of them yet.)One advantage of 5-units and up, is that the appraisal will place more weight on the Income Approach.  

I know buying & holding will take awhile to really see wealth but the goal is to secure a duplex or triplex, rent out the extras and live in one unit until I can start fixing & flipping.

I have secured my 2nd property this year (and overall). 

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