In fact we used a small stone sand blaster to clear it off limestone block walls in some of the very old homes we rehabbed.

High 600's and no cash in the bank probably isn't going to work.If you do go this route, expect to have to pay about 15% interest on the HML for a year, along with several points up front.

A previous owner has poured sand into the tank so it's apparently better to remove than to try to decommission this tank.I've had a couple of other investors tell me they stay away from oil tanks.

They are "flat" markets, unlike the cyclical ("bubble") markets you find in the coastal U.S., or hotter markets in Texas.

I'm not entirely convinced that SoCal (*edit: coastal SoCal) has really reached the low point of it's fall...

Sanded grout tends to catch more dirt.

Once 3/4" hardwood is installed it lasts the longest, plus if you are in a buy and hold situation, odds are you will remodel somewhere down the road.  3/4" hardwood can be sanded and refinished at least once if not twice.  

Then you want to speak to a lender(s) and get a relationship going with them.

They are a lot pricier than 5 years ago and way pricier that the Rustbelt cities most cash flowers are targeting, but they are still under priced at Coastal City levels.

Found out there was a major water main break and rust and sand looked like came into the building and clogged them.