I would also not be opposed to a flip if the right deal surfaced while I’m searching for a rental.

I hired an environment surveyor to do some of the due diligence you talked about --soil/perc test, drainage, utility, fire requirements, required setbacks, conceptual site plan, etc.For now, I am doing it by stages.

I use Surface Solutions in Canton, MI for instance.

We do have a lot of eastern block non English speakers that are great at hard surfaces and paint . but they will also hire hispanic labor. 

Fully acknowledged that I'm not an architect/contractor with the credibility to make that judgement, but I consulted in person with several architects and contractors who all agreed that the addition looks at surface level well-built. 

I would rather go and touch up paint here and there, which you'll have to do anyways rather than scrub paint off my new finished surfaces.

I'm just wondering why the siding is damaged near the surface of the ground.

Also, the entire area forces the storm drainage to flow on this lot, it flows around the house, and this house may be moving too. 

I know that on the surface $217 in that neighborhood on the buy side is too high, but that is only counting the finished sqft, add the 720sqft we finished from the basement and you have a much much better deal here. 

Looking at the same surface level information (which I have presented here regarding my own situation - it's all been surface level, like an iceberg if you will), there is not usually a solid consensus for one side or the other.