As for he insurance adjuster, it is standard procedure for them to inspect the loss.The contractor wants to walk with the adjuster to make sure he is not going to do work he will compensated for.  

The rate is adjustable on our heloc but through our credit union is only 4.25% at this time...

If I am reading your original post correctly, it appears as though you have either an adjustable rate mortgage, or you have a balloon payment.  

When you look at your appraisal, look at how the adjustments were made to the comps used to come up with the value of your house. 

I know that the competition in Florida is intense, my uncle has been doing it in Ft.

New York investing is very capital intensive.

You also have to prepare for a lower grade tenants and more management intensive ownership.Another advantage of a higher rent/price on a 4plx is it will help your DTI ratios during loan qualification process.

Thats not to say it doesn't come without some tennants on the margins of society :) I'm sure this one will be management intensive. 

While published sometime in the mid 1990's the numbers in the book may no longer be relevant, without adjusting for inflation, the precepts in this book literally helped me to see what changes I needed to make if I wanted to become a HNW individual.I studied, read, and re-read this book so many times there was a point in time me I would actually see the day deference in money choices laying out before me in advance of making investment/expenditure choices.

Originally posted by @Nick Britton:@Vicki Gleitz What an intense story.