The cracks in the walls are purely cosmetic.

The Blacksburg house was just purchased a month ago after sitting on the market here for 6 weeks-- pretty unheard of in the area, because it was in such poor shape cosmetically and asking price was too high.  

Do you think its better to go into a home that needs cosmetics, or full guts. 

Its absolutely disgusting and needs a cleanout plus a cosmetic rehab, then we will list on the MLS and hopefully make a decent profit!

For countertops in rentals we don't change them for cosmetic purposes.

I am currently in orthopedic surgery residency and my wife is a full-time special ed teacher.

I am in the construction field and can easily undertake a mostly cosmetic project (kitchens/bathrooms/finishes).   

I am not afraid of some cosmetic work or properties that can't be rented for the first year. 

Learn how to do this myself.If you WANTED to stay in real estate with some of it, then you can start now, you don't need $10M ... learn how to do it yourself with more limited funds, buy a simple cosmetic fixer as a primary house hack and you can learn, grow, and answer your own question that way and have the knowledge and experience by the time you get the money.

It would need be underpin in 4'-0" increments and that adds on labor and the way how that needs to be done (more labor intense)What I dont know now is if I should undo my steps - put a new stairs to the basement, do some cosmetic uplift  ( also waste all the money that I put into creating a new laundry room) and:1. sell the house and invest that money somewhere else?