Either fix/flip properties to get some instant equity to help pay these costs, or hold properties for much longer to allow appreciation/equity paydown to help you out.Next fire your realtor, if he tells you that could only sell your home for 180k, and then suggests putting in another 16k worth of remodeling and 4k in tree cutting and STILL thinks the home is worth 180k then that agent is an idiot and wasted 20k of your money for nothing.Yes the stock market may AVERAGE a decent return, but the economy isn't exactly average right now.  

One side was completely burned out by a kitchen fire, and the other side was occupied by hoarders so there wasn't much we could "check" anyway.   

WowYes, I'd fire on principal and notify my state DOL. 

So if you have a fire at the house, and it destroys all their stuff, then their insurance policy will kick in to compensate them for that stuff.  

A lot of the Gary police and fire guys eat there.

Hi BP Community,Would you buy a house that has significant fire damage?

What’s lighting a fire under builders is extremely low mortgage rates.

Then there is a new push for CLT also.As long as you have a certified architect/struct eng and can get permits from the correct govt permitting agency for structure and fire safety, I haven't heard a problem with insurers.

Or do I need to keep the patio/stairs for a second fire route?

For me having experienced the riots first hand, it was scary for those two nights where the majority of fires happened but once the curfew was strictly enforced it has been quite calm since then.