During your rental period, you would be claiming depreciation deductions on your taxes (don't skip it, the IRS considers any potential deductions as taken, regardless of whether you actually take them), but only for those two years.

Appraisal is more up to you, if you're confident in your offer, save the fee and skip the appraisal. 

Bring some cookies or breakfast tacos and be kind and polite......very polite. 

I've downloaded MOST of the Skip Tracing apps.

Maybe skip the hassle of having to register in another state and just create a CA LLC? 

If you do have the funds, and want to do some of the work like installing flooring, painting, etc. yourself, I would skip the renovation loan and additional requirements that come with it and keep things simple.If you don't have access to additional funds and don't have the ability or desire to work on the property yourself, and the property won't qualify for regular financing without some of the repairs, then I would definitely recommend the 203(k) loan.

We could do a mini BP meetup for breakfast somewhere central to us all - Apopka? 

They would rather skip the commission on one 'weird' deal than risk losing their license, obviously.

I would prefer to skip the 6% sales commission for listing on the MLS and this is an investor property anyway. 

I would eliminate that breakfast nook and expand the mudroom and1/2 bath and add a washer/dryer connection there especially if there isn't already a first floor laundry.