. #3 - Have finances in order (i.e) is this going to be bought through conventional, cash, HML, etc.

I did talk to an agent who bought SFH in San Jose at a discount and is renting out by the room. 

You bought long-term rentals, so be a long-term investor. 

Who bought the lot in front of their house for $20,000?

I've cheaped out and bought doors where I had to chisel out the space for the hinges and strike plates.

I'm asking because last year I bought an inventory home in Cypress TX that had a $10k discount, however the appraised value of the house came out to be the same as the discounted price :)  

Second, I bought the property for $279,000, and its initial appraisal was $337,000.

I gulped down my fear and bought the second course.

These are the exact things that have always prevented those who haven't bought.

We bought a house 9 months after our first offer once:)