Which is basically another 40 hours per work.Are you able to document (and then claim with a straight face) that you're a hopeless insensitive workaholic who consistently works 80-hour weeks, neglects his wife and otherwise has no life?

This is a pretty weird question, I know, but I am curious.I get that you can do deals pretty much anywhere, and there are good deals all over the country, but I don't believe that the markets are equal in this regard.For example, if the seller has the ability to look at your credit as an investor (which throws out one of the sole purposes of doing a seller finance), versus states/markets that don't require that as much, I would like to know the states/markets where owners checking your credit history is not going to be prevalent in a deal, assuming the seller is willing to do this kind of deal with you.For context, yes, I am a new and aspiring investor, and due to certain circumstances, my credit is currently not the best, but I don't want that to stop me from investing in real estate (which is why I'm leaning to using seller financing).Please no answers saying that I should just raise my credit score and get an FHA/Conventional loan, because I am currently working on raising my credit, but I can't give a time on when my credit will be "back to normal" again, which could mean I could be stuck on not qualifying for a loan for the next couple of years (ain't nobody got time for that).Thanks for the help!

Ask your accountant to read Regs 1.469 and CCA Memo 202151005.You can have Nonpassive Schedule Es under certain circumstances but it appears he is listing it as passive, therefore creating suspended losses.Here is a previous thread: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/530/topics/1056436-clearing-up-confusion-on-tax-treatment-of-short-term-rentals

The 3 activities that you listed might all count, depending on the circumstances, but none is automatic, with selling the property being the safest of the 3.

The "two year rule" that you're referencing applies to difference circumstances that yours -- namely when you are doing a 1031 exchange with a related party. 

Borrower shall occupy, establish, and use the Property as Borrower’s principal residence within 60 days after the execution of this Security Instrument and shall continue to occupy the Property as Borrower’s principal residence for at least one year after the date of occupancy, unless Lender otherwise agrees in writing, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, or unless extenuating circumstances exist which are beyond Borrower’s control.So you have one instrument saying it is Primary and the other saying it is Investment.

I've had broken windows, paint, and plumbing items flagged for repair but never stairs; although I have seen some really poorly constructed staircases and it's not terribly surprising to me that something like that could get flagged.Ultimately It's negotiable with the seller, although you should come to terms with the fact that you're an FHA buyer, and the seller would not have this issue with a conventional buyer; it entirely depends on your circumstances whether this is actually something the seller should pay for or not. 

If you do this you can potentially include a higher security deposit but you want t make sure to follow state laws about that.I understand that people may be improving their credit due to life circumstances.

These folks had been through the wringer, mistreated and neglected by the previous owners.

There could always be circumstances where a hold period of less than a year might be fine.