The way I think it would go would be:  I find a good deal, borrow the money from the investor to purchase the property, refinance after rehabbing and then pay the investor back plus accrued interest with cash to spare (best case).I wouldn't think partial cashflow would be an appealing return.Justin

I think you are right on the money in looking at that as a key indicator of where things are going.Out of curiosity what are your feelings on where we are going?  

They apparently were unable to locate me between those times, as such they filed a second lien.The only difference between the two is the added interest that accrued over the two years.This has been paid in full at this point.  

I have a full time job so it'd be an evening and weekends kind of deal so I was thinking of using my brother to offset some of the costs that may accrue from holding the property for a long period of time.

I may be making a simple rule too complex, but curiosity is making me ask haha.

Account ClosedPure curiosity - what's the value proposition in investing in Indy from Australia?

Your post prompts curiosities for me.

@Greg LarsonOut of curiosity... 

But the main reason I don't consider a home an investment is because MOST people will accrue a ton of equity in the home, only to die with that equity unrealized.

A LL can only deduct the cost accrued from damages caused by the tenant, a LL cannot just keep the full deposit because a tenant violated the lease.With that said, tally the cost of the damages and deduct that from the security deposit - that is how much you keep.