Can we slow down the depreciation in the first 5 yrs to match closer to the cash flow deliver to optimize annual taxes on the this deal while reducing the recapture that will occur if sold within 5yrs?

Also, I was naive about how difficult it can be to run a successful flip if trusting contractors who make promises but fail to deliver How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

You can certainly ask the seller to deliver the property at closing with a vacant unit but if it wasn't part of the original contract, I doubt the seller agree considering it adds another variable to the deal.

Deliver that notice by a process server or at least FedEx, to make it look serious.  

A lot of companies can’t answer that question.When they can’t answer that question, in my opinion, they have not properly defined their strength, and don’t understand what competitive advantage they can deliver to their investors.

And I think they’ll even deliver if you buy enough.

Developers delivered a robust 3,959 new units in the first quarter and tenants absorbed an “impressive” 5,552 net units, according to the Denver Metro Apartment Vacancy and Rent from the University of Denver and the Apartment Association of Metro Denver.https://www.denverpost.com/2019/04/27/metro-denver-apartment-rents-rise/

You can get friendly with an agent and ask them to put you on an MLS "drip", where properties that meet your search criteria are delivered to your inbox.

@Mandi DeGroot We usually hand-deliver an introductory letter and some basic information to the tenant, or their mailbox if they're not home. 

I represent someone at the moment who is buying a townhouse that was to close mid January, and the property is still not completed, but that contract states the developer has 2 years to deliver the property.I'm just sharing what I'm used to and not an attorney.