They might but you will probably not convince him. Stand back and let him find out for himself. Make certain that you keep your monies separate until he either fixes it up or decides it is not worth it. It is easy with comingled money for it to slip through the fingers when a project like this is done. First he needs to board the windows up.

Does this person have experience in restoration, construction, or flipping? Maybe that person knows something you don't?

It's impossible for us to know what's going on (or what is planned) in that city and neighbourhood, and what amount of time and money it might take -- and we can't know whether this person has realistic expectations or not.

Thanks Maifleur03, I think you're right!

He is a handy guy, but has never bought or flipped real estate before.

Unfortunately, he already has some buyer's remorse and is worried people will steal tools he leaves at the job site.

Tools, when left at any job site and not properly secured, seem to disappear regardless of the neighborhood conditions.