The only advice that I can offer is to be willing endure the growing pains.

I'm not for or against the hot/cold water idea because I know it works for some people but I personally didn't notice any results, and I had to endure the Polar Bear Plunge in the shower after working all day while covered with insulation on top of it.

That way you'd get more accurate numbers and inspectors will be more familiar with the regional hardships buildings and structures endure and are damaged by.

Asson Denis God bless you for having to endure Killeen.

What type of risk are you willing to endure? 

Also, I'm not sure whether I have the endurance for a short sale, but the potential property is a seeming good deal for a buy and hold scenario.

Make your time be a legacy; as Napoleon Hill said: For as long as time endures.

Most pro's get set up with Lexis Nexis and TLO, both requiring an office inspection and minimum monthly fees.Alternatively, you can get a subscription to PI magazine and find amateur sleuths to skip trace your target on a per assignment basis with commitment. 

I would have done this as many times as I could...but then I got married and my wife didn't want to live through another renovation (she visited me at that house and was often put to work or had to endure trips to Lowes).So being young and in an area with lots of other young professionals like RTP you have a lot of options you could leverage...it's just a matter of what you're willing and able to do. 

This takes some extra effort and sleuthing & doesn't always get results, but if I can clear an eviction from the record before another application is approved, I do.