So there's an opportunity to raise the rents, and using the cap rate, substantially increase the value of the portfolio.

If you bring on someone with a substantially higher credit score, that in and of itself can improve your loan options.4.

Unless you have substantial assets already, just get an umbrella policy.

The property will likely be worth more in a year, plus you will have a years worth of cash flow showing on two years of tax returns to substantiate it was held for investment. 

Real property actions;  adverse possession under color of title(2) For the purpose of this section, property is deemed possessed in any of the following cases:(b) When it has been protected by a substantial enclosure. ...There is another Florida Statute which provides for Adverse Possession if you've paid taxes on another's parcel and used it. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/sta...Nolo.com provides the following info, in part; https://www.nolo.com/legal-enc...Florida’s Requirements for Adverse PossessionThere is no single statute in Florida that spells out the elements that a trespasser must establish to prove adverse possession.

I won't EVER use them again.I recently came across another home in Birmingham that has a substantial crack in the foundation and basement shows areas of water.

After all, sellers would have to take a substantial price discount, so owners are unwilling to list unless they absolutely need to sell. 

that's easily accounted for by an appraiser and the abundance of non-distressed sales make it more prudent to use those as comparable sales.The challenge with refinances is that the appraiser has no "target" on paper that they're trying to hit, like they do in a new purchase contract (where they are trying to substantiate the contract price). 

There are multi-family properties in this market that can be had for very little money, but need substantial repair.

But that is going to increase the labor cost SUBSTANTIALLY so its just not worth it in most cases.