@Alex Peters- Following this thread for additional ideas, but here are my thoughts:check bank account statements to make sure they have adequate reservescheck court records to assess litigation activity - both for the business entity and its principalsbusiness credit reportDo they have experience with other properties in Joshua Tree? 

I am an investor with Praxis and if that call comes, I will understand completely why and I will have been adequately prepared.  

@Scott Trench, you’ve more than adequately explained the two opposite scenarios for subject to.  

I am not too kin to pay it all before the renovation work has been completed and have negotiated to keep 15% to be paid when renovation work has been completed, so that the seller has an incentive to complete the work adequately.

Just keep adequate reserves.

Always make sure to adequately screen your tenants (background check, income verification, credit report, etc).2) In the context of House Hacking, with a SFH are you considering renting out by the room?

using the bank to agree to a set amount of stock that they will accept as adequate and that negates the wide swings you talk of.

I will say that NO agent I've ever worked with was 'worthy' of that kind of $$ for the 'less-than-stellar, but adequate' work they did selling a property of mine, and at least one of those was "agent of the year".  

Adequate care has been hard to find, and this was supposed to be a solution.

At the end of the day, having adequate capital to purchase deals is a crucial part of this industry.