. :-(  We are only staying with the bank because the rate is so advantageous and the terms are as well.

Couple of things I looked out for:- Area, make sure it's somewhere that will have stable demand- I stayed away from homes that had a lot of renovations that were needed- During the tour see if you can spot basic issues like if wiring is old or how new is the HVAC system, etc. - If you decide to keep the tenants that are already there see how well they keep the place

I have not personally condo house hacked, but I did house hack my first single family home and had a friend stay with me. 

Stay out of Endsley that's the worse area.Watch out for those turnkey products.

Any particular layout that you recommend or would stay away from (2 story vs 1)3.

Local MLS AccessHaving access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) allows you to stay ahead of new listings and price changes.

Staying active and engaged is crucial.Build a Robust Profile: Your profile should showcase the deals you've done and include reviews from past clients.

So if you are in a state where houses on average are above $500k, I would say stay away from this company. 

While staying in contact with seller, Find out about an environmental court date late January.

Suzette,Stay away from any company that offers you a Loan modification or a foreclosure "Audit" and what ever new name they call it now a days.