You gotta dig a lot more to really see if it is a good investment.If you buy well located CA property in a downturn you will do very well. 

You would not need o trench the entire line but rather just have to dig a hole on your property and hopefully on the terrace where the neighbor doesn't have a say.

As you dig a little deeper into the actual release by the provincial government the regulation only applies to licensed agents and appears to be "self-policing" by the industry itself ... so it may amount to a little more discretion, but not elimination of the behaviour.

@Peter Lohmann, lets dig a little deeper.  

I just don't want to dig a hole I won't be able to get out of. 

I'll dig a little deeper into those organizations/events.

Some of what you are seeking might be found in this other thread:https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/52/topics/297010-pa-lawsAnd I suggest you look into DIG as well: http://digonline.org/

By the looks of it i would say your Dad is right, it looks like the concrete has deteriorated due to water. you do not need a foundation co. just hire a mason to cement it back up inside, but first take care of the cause on the outside, get that leader pipe to drain away from the house by either extending the pipe above ground or dig a shallow trench and run a pipe under ground away from the house. also make sure the soil around the house is pitched away so that water moves away from the house.

Or, get an excavator for half a day or so, and dig a bunch of test holes.  

I told most folks here on BG and in many seminars that if I sit at computer long enough I can dig a lot of great information up to prove what a great city Charlotte is.