3. if things get really worse, they play it really nasty and sue me about the mold. how could i defense myself.Answers and experience are highly appreciated.

There is the insolvency defense, though.

Later this month I'm attending a RE conference in Kansas City.

Asset Ventures and Tony Martinez advertise on real estate investment sites and make presentations at real estate investment conferences in various states.The problem is that Asset Ventures and Tony Martinez do not pay the investors back. 

To "J.Scott": I've attend/ed many 1-day classes/conferences/conventions/presentaions but have not paid for any on-going.

I understand that future capital improvements would be depreciable but if none of the value of the existing infrastructure can be applied towards the basis, it obviously changes my after-tax returns significantly. 2)  If the answer to question 1 is no, can I effectively create a defensible basis by getting a cost segregation done that breaks out the true value of the infrastructure or, would the appraisal suffice since the appraiser would presumably provide a breakout of the infrastructure value?  

Why do our renovation expenses seem to be so much more expensive than investors I hear on BP podcasts or at conferences, etc.? 

I am a criminal defense attorney in Southern California so I needed to cross examine him in person.  

This will be my first conference of any kind, so not sure what to expect. 

Folks who own properties right now are in a Defense mode by reducing costs and stopping distributions to investors.