I want you to really internalize this what I am about to say.  

My wife and I use these properties for our personal businesses.I'm not a licensed contractor but I do have my Residential and International Code books.

Flipping PropertiesIf the primary objective of your real estate business, or one of your real estate businesses, is to buy, potentially fix up an existing property and resell it within one year, the Internal Revenue Service can consider that to be an active trade or business.

or international attraction for the model to work, just a central location and a nice space.

The only thing I kept was the furnace, after replacing all the internals. 

That was 7k for 120ft back in 1999.re epoxy liners:  IMO that's a solution for internal galvanized plumbing that has rusted and is staining the sinks & tubs. 

When it comes to lending, HSBC does international mortgage up to 50% LTV, and their policy sometimes state that they only lend if you plan to live there.

A resident I know purchase a house last year with his intern income.

If they are having an internal squabble that is their issue; the rent is still due in-full, on-time, no exceptions.  

But... these are the numbers I budget with in Iowa for my internal projects.