@John Thedford I realize they are a more familiar name and therefore would be more easily accepted especially in communities where they have successfully listed and sold property.

This might not help you now but if you agree to settle and accept some money its probably considered "rent" and you may have to start all over with an eviction.

An engineer can design a site-specific plan as long as it meets local codes and will be accepted by the building department.

I would not accept an even 50% split in this scenario.Now if 50/50 is the only way that your partner would do this deal, then you have to weigh if its worth losing the deal because he/she would pull out.

Hello BP, So I just made an offer on a duplex in Norfolk Va, the seller accepted and we are just finalizing the deal.

My experience is a small portion of buyers 10% or so will be just turned off since it will be disclosed, another 10% or so will try to think since it was there you should accept a lower price, but the other 80% don't care since it's now fixed and they have the warranty.

Some people won't accept an offer until they see that you CAN get financing. if you already have the 20-25% downpayment ready, why don't you go straight to a conventional loan?

I am not sure yet what are the main traits I should be looking for, but I believe that a good start would be a state/city/area that is: Landlord friendly (from the tenant- landlord perspective).Has a solid ROI Is considerably cheap (unlike San Francisco haha)Allows foreign investors Isn't too expensive tax wiseAny ideas and advice will be happily accepted :)Thanks in advance everybody!

She asked if I accepted gov funds, like if she got help with rent. 

Offer accepted.