Define roles, financial contributions, profit-sharing, and responsibilities in a detailed agreement.

ST rentals are much more profitable and command cash flows are often higher than in the US if you buy the right property in the right market.As an international investor, I find Ladislas Maurice interesting but there are different types of international investors and most international investors I know wouldn't go through the hassle of what he does for the kind of returns that he gets.

Following the shiny object, throwing money at a market you don't know well, and blindly trusting strangers that have a clear profit motive put you in a poor position to succeed regardless of where you choose to invest.

Educate the land owner on the potential profit run the numbers and go over the basic proxy and blue prints.Make sure you have a seasoned and qualified Builder/GC because they can be a deal killer with wasted time and inflated material and extended completion dates.

However, we also recognize the time value of money, so while it might pencil out to turn a profit, but we get an immediate payback versus a six to nine month holding time, it might make more sense to sell them both as bare land.  

Quote from @Isadore Nelson: 180k + 40k, sold for a 'profit' at 218k? 

Do you need an S-Corp depends on your overall tax situation and profit you are expecting form this flip.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

Profitable and stable are two words that have a negative correlation. 

If you do buy a pre foreclosure and follow all the rules and sell within 36 months any profit 80% has to go back to the original owner  who was in foreclosure.Since I made living doing foreclosure rescue prior to this . the new laws removed that activity from my business..

He sold that duplex last year, and cleared a 6 figure PROFIT.