(Except in most condos and townhomes.)The irs will pretend you’ve been taking depreciation when you sell even if you don’t.

Pretend you don't have that money.

If the deal is good (you MUST buy at the right wholesale price) it doesn't take much to find private money (not hard money pretending to be private) but true private investors. 

I certainly give him credit where it's due, he is successful, he doesn't pretend with playing like he's an engineer or wizard that adds value.If you own a restaurant you hire a cook, if it's a fancy joint you hire a chief, if you're in RE you hire a GC, they don't run your business nor are they entitled to a slice of it, they are hired help.

You are not looking to buy a single property,  so stop pretending you are a flipper and  ohh casually pass along a property that doesnt fit your flipping criteria.

If you don't treat it like an investment when you purchase it then you are fooling yourself by pretending it is an investment.

Anyone sniffing around would see right through you pretending a place is your "primary residence" if your mail, license, vehicle, and all you stuff goes to a different address that is only an hour away and you rent your "primary residence" for 10 months a year.

I'm thinking this is one of the cheaper and more reasonable ways I can impose my taste on the rehab and pretend that it's not all about the money

Like wise you can pretend you're a potential tenant and call around to apartment complexes in the area about what their rent would be and what amenities are included.

Pretend you are a typical local renter and look at it from their perspective.