I'm thinking it's a hearth room, put a fireplace in, open the wall over the sink if it faces that exterior wall, you don't have to take the wall out, just an opening, that together with the wide traffic area to that room from the kitchen will tie the two together, carry the same flooring throughout as Heather suggested.

I would like to keep a good relationship, so if most of this is on pieces out of my control, then so be it.

We purposely avoid HOAs because we don't like not having control (of maintenance standards, costs, etc.). 

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.Download BP’s newest book here some good due diligence in Chapter 10.

My name is James Sheppard, I currently live in Richmond, VA and have begun my entrepreneurial journey with real estate wholesaling.I am new to real estate but after listening to the BP podcast and also reading forums and seeing how hopefully this community is I have decided to take this leap of controlling my own destiny.I am here to contribute and learn as much as possible from the BP community.I would like to reach out to anybody in my community and in the state of Virginia that needs any help in their real estate venture.

The one point that I wanted to make sure was understood is that the improvements, whether paid before, at or after closing must be paid under the control of the Qualified Intermediary and the corresponding improvements must be completed before you take title to the property in order to be counted as "real property" for like-kind property requirements and qualify for tax-deferred exchange treatment. 

I have no idea what your dad's expertise is, an accountant familiar with inventory and process accounting along with inventory control can probably safeguard your money, if they are good.  

If iFunding, how did you gain control? 

Our retail is really picking up as well, once Walmart came to town the main road in town started getting more traffic and subsequently a lot of shopping plazas were revamped.

I also live in CA and prices are out of control.