@Brian W. amd @Mehran Kamari , a little tip that I learned when we found out the main shutoff had rusted open and the city water shutoff was too rusted to turn off.

Bryan H., I am pre-approved for the 203k.

Thanks Bryan, and Victor!

Bryan- The last one finished was 1703 Sq Ft, 4-2-2.

Bryan- I think I already joined.

Aluminum will not rust and you may need to go with a thicker metal to avoid damaging them when you put a ladder on them. 

@Bryan Feik, Whatever concludes this string, you are right about the control of funds issue. 

@David Faulkner  defiantly talking mid west rust belt deep south and some areas of CA and rural Oregon and WA.. not any of the areas basically within the major urban areas.I mean we are at 250k for a starter in the worst part of the bay area.

Major maintenance items to watch for on older sites are roofs, especially screw down roofs with failing rubber washer screws that fail (steel roofs are maybe a 30 to 40 year product), driveways at the end of their lives, doors and door springs (the older ones were more prone to rust if not maintained, newer ones tend to be better lubricated or coated).

It is likely the people are loitering near his property because the liquor store forced the people out of their parking lot. liquor stores in these areas are social gathering areas in every urban core place I have been to in the rust belt and mid west.. it just is what it is..