I started looking at all that I owned in my head and realized that I had surrounded myself with liabilities, doodads, and tons of other things but no assets.

Knoxville is surrounded by lakes and rivers and if you really want to see some beautiful rivers go to Gatlinburg and Townsend while you are here.

I'm looking in the Philadelphia area (city limits as well as surrounding suburbs).

I imagine multi-family properties may be more expensive, since it's more of an urban center.I have a good understanding of the layout in DC, but very little knowledge of the surrounding area - which would include properties that'd likely be more affordable. 

That is, he has a 3 acre lot surrounded by a chain link fence where people can park RVs, trailers, boats, etc. 

I've been working on it for 8 months (I have a FT J.O.B. so i can only work on it weekends) and i am only to the point where all the drywall (including ceilings replaced), new AC and duct work, removed blown insulation and replaced, reconfigured walls for open concept and rewired electrical. 

They placed everyone at risk in the building and surrounding properties. 

Removed and examed all the insulation finding it bone dry with zero evidence of any damage, no midlew down there. 

We built the home 2x6 & its very well insulated including the finished basement.

I spoke with an insulation/air sealing specialist and he suggested combining the three (solar and air source heat pumps plus oil backup) was the way to go - plus there are lots of loan programs in Mass (solar loans, heat loans for heat pumps, etc) to help move in this direction.