Some of the videos he provides are all the way from 2010 and 2013 and just outdated.The way he explains things can be extremely confusing and the quality is not worth the price.

So knowing scope would help narrow down on risk mitigation tactics.I guess at the end of the day, it all comes down to knowing what is needed, order of operations, and having as close to true quotes from reputable contractors in hand.Beyond that, really knowing all that is needed and having those extremely detailed scope of works for each trade before you get your bids.  

You are extremely lucky because @Josh Green is one of the best realtors I have met, and he happens to be in your market!

They suffer extreme losses.

Verifying last 2 years of rental history and income extremely important to find the “best of the worst”.Make sure you understand the Class of properties you are looking at and the corresponding results to expect.The City of Detroit has 183 Neighborhoods we’ve analyzed.PM us if you’d like to discuss this logical approach in greater detail!

Before the crash, it seemed like you couldn't get the numbers to work that well in terms of cash flow but you could find deals here and there and the financing and appreciation was definitely there.During the bust you could easily find discounts but the financing was impossible to get and the rental profits were extremely tough and thats even if you self managed. 

The two years of residence would tick back from when you lived in the home, which concluded in Sept 2021.The other piece to keep in mind, and again, I don't know where abroad you are living, but I would also consult a tax accountant familiar with the tax laws of that country, and the US tax treaty with that country, to confirm a gain wouldn't be inadvertently triggered for your country of residence. 

So, proper screening is EXTREMELY important!

I've been attending local meet ups and they're extremely helpful talking to people who have a deep knowledge of local markets, especially San Francisco and San Jose. 

Pretty straightforward project but extremely useful for my investing career going forward.