This would be my first time buying a fire damage home Thank you

Use their deposit for REAL damage but be conservative.

I always paid my rent, took good care of the place, and never complained about the fact that my little shack of a house was a converted 2 car cinder block garage with a wall furnace that roared like a dragon. 

It's tough work but put pencil to paper and make an honest assessment of how much damage you could handle.

Both cities are neighborhood dependent, or “block by block.” 

You should have a window of time to shop now though without damaging your credit score.

The cabinets need to be refurbished after ~50 years of use (finish, drawer slides, hinges, hardware, some isolated areas of damage, etc.).

Now i get that when you go on zillow and similar sites that you get the comps through there but i cant see the houses sold in that same block and also i dont have money for contractor just to give an  estimate so how can i determine an average cost for repairs without a contractor and get a close arv so i can make a good offer?

If you want to have a good experience with your first park, look for one without all that brain damage. 

@Teri Feeney Styers That would be nice, but I've seen a lot damage from "flushable" wipes in my work, so I think we've got a ways to go.