Not so often as to make it a distraction, but often enough to make it meaningful.

Fun to look at but not meaningful."

In other words, use the cash to help you buy right.Then, after stabilizing and seasoning the investment, refinance it and extract as much of your cash (maybe even all of it) and start over on another project.This is a good way to get a buy and hold property with little or no money down...

If there are ways to extract more value it could help the deal.

The house has about $25,000 equity in it and $110,000 left on the loan.I have absolutely no meaningful insight to share on buying properties in Northern Utah however I just had to take a minute to comment because your mentality is refreshing, unique and commendable.  

It would be a good idea to have objective criteria for folks coming in or the spread in experience would make some folks unable to contribute on a meaningful level.

Clearly, the strategy is to pursue a longer-term vision when you’re attempting to extract value from gentrification.

Especially when very little meaningful data can be obtained in the other background checks. 

My friend Sean O'Toole's Property Radar has about as good a value as you'll find for the money as you can filter down to some really great niches and sub-niches.However, leads like these are really 'cold' leads in that it data extracted, compiled and aggregated into highly useful info, including identifiable trigger (I.e., foreclosure, defaulted taxes, etc.). 

When you change duty stations roll the property into your companies portfolio loan and extract your equity for the next purchase.