That being said, the U of M does drive the demand and Normal station will always be a very safe place to invest in.  

My reasoning was that it would be a safe place to store it until i could get it into real estate. 

If you won't risk your money or a friends money and won't take it at 6%, how safe is this deal?

We just using that to be in the safe end of an investment property?

There's no hard and fast rule, but the general consensus is that you're pretty safe from IRS scrutiny if you hold for at least 12-18 months.

The reason I suggest doing this upfront is because you will likely need to sign loan docs via a notary on video chat from Afghanistan, which only a few title companies will go for.Stay safe, and remember to hoard food before Ramadan. 

I hope everyone has a safe and fun pre-holiday weekend.Thank you.

HUD consultant stated that it was safe for me and my family to live in the property.

I would make the decision based on the math and protect for contingencies, i.e. make sure you have sufficient funds to complete the remodel (I like 2x to be safe) and have a plan if things get delayed or the market changes to make sure you don't get stuck with the higher rate for too long.

In the event of a turnover, I simply see to it that it is habitable and safe.