I finally found a 3 bed 1 bath REO property in Griffith, IN which met all my criteria so I jumped at the deal and made an offer.Since then, here is a short list of surprise complications which made me wonder if we would ever get through it: -seller (bank) had some initial reserves with me using a loan even though the listing said conventional loans were fine-seller made me prequalify with their bank even if I wanted to use a lender of my choice -struggled for a few weeks trying to get a lost W2 from previous employer for underwriter -while in underwriting I needed to supply some new document ever couple days (or so it seemed), go on a conference call with my banks and credit bureau, write nearly 10 letters of explanation, until I was ready for them to ask for the blood of my firstborn -after the home was inspected it was vandalized when someone broke a bedroom window -bank refused to fix the window and lender wouldn't move forward until it was fixed leaving me to do repairs on a house I didn't own-lender nearly backed out because I wanted to use money loaned to me for the down payment-lender rejected first couple insurance providers I supplied until we finally worked something outSo here we are, after all that I'm cleared to close and begin fixing the house up and getting it ready to rent (BRRRR). 

I was able to do that because I recognized that vacation rentals are part of the hospitality industry, more than they are a part of the real estate industry, and that I needed to operate that business as a professional hospitality enterprise.

Here are (more or less) my notes on how I expect to organize my enterprise.  

I'm leaning toward an IRA LLC and run the business, (Hart Enterprises LLC, for example) as autonomously as possible, while following rules governing IRAs, but without running every business decision by a custodian.

Census Bureau data showing the Houston metropolitan area leading the nation in population growth in 2015, with the addition of over 159,000 new residents.

While driving around I found the areas on west, north west and south west of the strip to be nicer and was curious to learn if there were any investment opportunities in either North LV/Summerlin/Henderson/Enterprise areas.

@Stephanie Bureau:  I haven't done it, but I am from East Texas. 

Online payment processing startup Dwolla has been hit with a $100,000 penalty by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).Federal Trade Commission (FTC), due to possible unfair practices by the company's payment service Venmo

Recently we sold a construction company and we have been using the cpa from that enterprise simply because that's what we know.

I currently work with enterprise brands in the technology space and help them find solutions on a daily basis, so I'd love to translate that to real estate.