I hate to be a part popper and I don’t want to dampen your enthusiasm but I’m not sure starting your real estate career in Montenegro is a great move.I started my team estate career internationally but I did it in the Riviera Maya in Mexico a much more profitable and safer market, in which I had unique connections.I looked at Montenegro.

If you're putting up drywall you may as well put some insulation in between.  

https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/10850/86621-six-steps-approach-to-getting-started-in-real-estate https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/10850/87253-should-i-scale-my-investment-from-single-family-homes-to-multifamilyhttps://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/10850/85351-nothing-will-work-until-you-do-maya-angelou

So here's where I'm stuck: If I sell the house now, I think I'll be lucky if I can sell it for what I paid ($300k), so I may as well have just lit that $105k (and closing costs) on fire.

Another concern is that you have given away control to the utility company, even though they may allow a certain number of "overrides" per year.There is no substitute for good continuous insulation, energy efficient windows and a high SEER rating on mechanical equipment, but this may a step in the right direction.

It may a good idea to state specifically what you are looking to do.  

I figured I was going to spend my time doing something, so it may as well be a task that could bring me closer to my goal.  

If Zillow says your property appreciated 100% in 2 years, you may as well throw it up there on the chance that someone will buy it.

I've responded to hundreds of posts about the subject and there's quite a bit regarding Mexico and the Riviera Maya.

@Christopher Bell@Alice Huang, I own property in the Riviera Maya and I've been traveling there recently and what you mention is mostly inaccurate.