But you couldn't just buy it and move into it.The other very interesting part of your question lies with financing. 

I gave up on living this fantastic, sick lie we call American white-collar middle-class respectability.

Just junk lying around, plastic crates, dirty old piss jugs(!)

The bad thing about a ghost ad is that you are starting your business relationship off with a lie.

People do not tell you every thing before hand, or lie, so when you make the appointment, then find out they're unqualified, you wasted your entire time and effort.

We appealed, but no luck. 

The cosmetic features like kitchen, bath may appeal to women.

To accomplish this same project by hand (roller/brush) would be 5x the time and the finish would not be as appealing.  

Purchase price: $2,425,000 Cash invested: $288,000 •16 unit apartment building purchased from a distressed seller in May 2018 for $2,425,000•Renovation cost: $288,000 in cosmetic updates to each unit, roof, carport and exterior appeal•Scope: Added 2 additional two-bedroom apartments, and fully renovated each unit, increasing rents by 60% over an 8 month period•Projected Net Profit: $600,000

If there are some that they didn't know about or lied about, that's when they either lose more of their money, your buyer eats it (if it's a nice enough deal they might have wiggle room) or you walk away.