The property is a single family home that is on sale for $179,000. 

Hmmm, they feed you deals they lend on.

Purchase price: $325,000 Cash invested: $2,485 Sale price: $335,000 Low upfront cost due to creative financing.

Hi Evan from Sayville, NY-You asked about whether a lender would pay real estate commissions and closing costs with a short sale.I negotiated a lot of short sales after the Great Financial Crisis.Short sales are similar to dealing with a bank owned property accept the bank is trying to avoid taking it back so the terms, specifically an acceptable purchase price, have to be negotiated.The thing I found that was important to negotiate was the lender agreeing to settle without further recourse for the seller.

Here’s why lease options are a game-changer:🔹 Low Risk, High Leverage – Instead of buying a property outright, you lease it with the option to purchase later.

Also, any advice on how to screen tenants would be helpful.

I own a couple vacant lots and looking to purchase more in a small area. 2/1s in Memphis, as far as I know, are as desirable as in a bigger market.

I put supplies on the job site.

@Chris LauerRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

The right market for you depends on whether you prioritize cash flow (Augusta, Columbia) or long-term appreciation (Greenville, Huntsville).