Scheduling is the hardest part of construction , good subcontractors are not sitting home waiting for the phone to ring , they are scheduled out weeks if not months ahead of time .

Once you think there is no law pertaining to the activity then the work begins this is a belly to belly business your not going to do this on E mail and text messaging .. you will need to be able to sit down with these folks or it will never happen.

How long do they sit on the market, are you finding them in move-in-ready condition, or will they need work before you move in? 

Purchased a property that needed some work and on the lower end of the market so homes were sitting.

I hope you or someone is at least keeping an eye on your properties for break ins, squatters, roof leaks, temperature control, frozen pipes (if in cold climate), if you have a basement and sump pump goes out leading to water damage etc.I just talked to two investors in California that have let their properties sit vacant (no mortgages so paying property taxes and insurance).

Despite paying fees, doing a deal and making some profit is better than sitting on the sidelines. 

Using a heloc as 1st mortgage really only has a major benefit if you have idol cash sitting around from your paychecks. 

It's usually better to earn $200 less a month for one year than to sit vacant for two months, particularly in the winter.Consider a bigger drop for a 6-month lease to get through winter, then increase rent or find a new renter in the spring when competition is hotter.

Property was sitting on market and needed light updates (roof, flooring, paint) but was in a great area that allows STRs giving me multiple options when deciding on rental strategy How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

From the assessor's site, the land-use records show that the encroaching property owner has only been paying taxes for their plotted land, while the subject property has been paying the taxes for land on which the other’s building partially sits.