Its doable, I've done it many times.   

A lot of it might feel like wasted time, but it's just practice until you find a deal that works and you close. 

It is to get you to reduce the amount of time you waste looking at deals and knowing what is good and what isn't good for a deal.You'll also need to know the area comps, are people putting in wood flooring or LVP etc.

You would arguably be better off buying a CD at a slightly lower yield with almost no risk, time, or stress requirements. 

Securing quotes for properties in flood zones can be challenging and time-consuming (especially if vacant), so it’s unlikely you could have done it quickly.

Take your time and really think through your purpose and perspective before making a move.  

Last time I checked only people who have lost a home are those who do not pay.

Your son is responsible for making payments on time or ruining this seller's credit. 

They simply did not desire to spend more time than it was worth to recover the money from Airbnb.

One thing that I screwed up a few times was this - don't do everything the way YOU like it, try and think like everyman....