So, would you suggest doing this and putting him in 1st position, once the home is completed have him removed from 1st?

I would suggest looking into private financing options.

Ebooks, podcasts like @Bonnie Low suggested and start running numbers on every deal you see until you know how it all works.

I would suggest you hire an inspector as well as have a general contractor go out to the property.

The upward trend of those orders suggests there is a WAVE of REOs coming.

Who's suggesting they'd be relocating to Cleveland?

any suggestions on how I should compare these 2 options?

Would anyone be willing to share some suggestions that I could use as a foundation?

Just need to spend a year somewhere I may have no desire to live.Hybrid Plan:Keep researching out-of-state markets and act if a great deal appears.Move back to LA, live in Airbnbs in to get a feel for neighborhoods (open to suggestions), and house hack once I find a deal.Would love to hear from those who’ve house-hacked in LA or NYC or started with out-of-state rentals—what would you do in my shoes?

As a foreign investor, I can get financing up to 80% for the purchase of real estate, so the biggest problem for a more serious project is down payment if you have a solution for down payment, please suggest me.