Hi Shakti, As a lender we do work with US-visa holders as long as they have an established credit score in the US.

Also, in regards to a per diem, I'd like to be a bit more optimistic that I can establish the right checks and balances to ensure that the contractor is not skipping corners.

You should research it and establish your own opinions but as a new investor it's a lot of work.

However, established areas can often come with a premium price tag and thinner margins.

Establishing a relationship with a few of them locally or nationally [if you have a network] would be extremely beneficial.

Buying properties in solid and well established locations2.

Now they want to put the properties into RE Gain Fund, LLC UpREIT (which appears to have been established in 2023). 

For instance, the latest regulation in my state starts: "830 CMR 64G.1.1 repeals and replaces the regulation formerly titled as "Establishments Subject to the Room Occupancy Excise" and reflects the statutory changes enacted by St. 2018, c. 337 and St. 2019, c. 5."

@Agatha Oliveira Over the last 10 years case law has been established that greatly expands the ability to redeem tax sale properties.

The only exceptions I can think of are a lack of experience frustrating your financing process or where the GC has such a well established brand that a buyer will pay a premium for a home built or renovated by that particular contractor.