Strike while the iron is hot!

Strike up conversations with the experienced people, and ask them how you can help them. 

It appears the last owner and the neighbors collaborated on this little drainage ditch and wondering if I can strike a deal of something similar with my north side neighbor.

Or better yet, try and strike a deal with the taxing authority, maybe settle for less, and tell your friend you’ll take the house and take care of the taxes.

Sounds like for now I am going to have to wait them out.Anyone ever tell you that you have a striking resemblance to Warren Buffet ???  

You aren’t limited to using identical tiles on both surfaces, although doing so creates a striking effect.

Striking blue eyes

Proximity to campus and dependency on the academic schedule are the conundrum of student housing and are very challenging to reconcile...I'm talking from little experience...but a painful one...just missed the year with my first student SFH despite all my effort to get it ready on time...had accepted offer in January...closed beginning of March...then had very hard time finding a contractor (had about 8 bid on the project)...all were very busy and most didn't even bother to follow up with bids...bottom line...be prepared to hold the place empty for months.From your post it seem you plan to invest locally which does give you a great advantage (I'm 3 hrs away from my houses).Couple of thoughts:In markets where the students want to walk to campus it is very hard to strike on both timing and proximity...you need to be prepare to get places as they become available as inventory is very limited...in my market the students practically don't cross certain streets...very defined geographic area and you have to be in it (this is market specific so you need to map your market).As Tim Simmons said the most important thing is to know your market.

I think I’ve found some reed diffusers that seem to strike the balance.

Often times, I have even been able to strike a mutually beneficial relationship (like hired ones teenage daughter to mow the yard and take care of lawn care for the year, hired another neighbor to take the trash out every week).