I use a written agreement that spells out exactly what they want to do, what materials they will use, when it will be finished, it must pass my inspection, if it is done improperly then the Tenant will pay for a professional to correct it, etc.

Make sure your lender spells out all the details. 

Everything should be spelled-out in the lease. 

You should have a listing agreement which spells out the commission, no matter if it's sold "on-market" or "off-market".Why would you not list it on MLS? 

The Grand Junction area of CO. would work as well***)Spelling it out... my strategy would be to save the 5% I'd need for a conventional loan (if I can't get an FHA loan) to purchase the first duplex (I don't have 20% for anything right now), living on one side to fulfill the loan requirements that we live there for "x" period of time, and to save up for the next property (move into our RV or pull-behind). 

The 'rules' are spelled out in the mortgage but they usually try to work with a borrower that seems to earnestly want to catch up on payments and has the means. 

And you spelled my name wrong Don.

I mulled it over and realized, I never spelled out any specific expectation for this scenario.

I'd second (damn spell check)

This means it would no necessarily transfer with the land. however your contract  may have spelled out whether it was supposed to or not.