Phoenix contains a rare combination of elements that have created an outstanding market for distressed property investments, including the following:Cost Savings: Distressed properties are sold below their market value and enable investors to take hold of properties at a trifle compared to traditionally listed properties.Strong Market Fundamentals: Being among the fastest-growing cities in the country, Phoenix ensures a high demand in housing and rentals, hence good potential for resale or income from rentals.Value Creation Opportunities: Most distressed properties need renovations; thus, such situations present opportunities for investors to increase equity by adding value.Population and Economic Growth: Phoenix remains among those cities in the country which are attracting more and more residents and business; therefore, this presents good, long-term appreciation possibilities of property appreciation and income creation.Challenges to ConsiderWhile the rewards can be great, distressed property investment is not without its challenges.

Quote from @Eduardo Perez-Borroto: Since the HELOC was not used on improving the home you cannot deduct the interest, nor use that to offset your capital gain.Would adding a battery bank system to my solar panels count as home improvement? 

Look at Intel headquarters, Google, FB, Amazon, Nationwide, Honda, etc.

Your biggest challanges:1) Figuring out how to advertise on Zillow2) Handling all the calls3) Scheduling showings - and getting stood up4) Finding a rental application to use - you can use Zillow's or easily Google for one.5) Figuring out how to screen applicants ***** This is IMPORTANT!

Long term rental numbers are hard to get cash flow with added in reserves for maintenance, cap ex, and vacancy.

Adding the real estate investment and management concentration could definitely be worth it if it gives you solid knowledge and good networking opportunities.

Costs before that (during remodeling) are added to the basis.2.

Quote from @Scott Trench: Wait... the guy who buys all the ads (through Google) on BiggerPockets YouTube videos and attempts to reach BP viewers says that Tax Liens are the best way to build wealth, asking me repeatedly and agressively why I'm not doing it? 

Thanks for coming out and joining us - we have some new events and workshops and training that we will be adding shortly - look for a couple of virtual workshops a month and a get started training program to be implemented before the end of the year. 

I paid for the subscription for a few months and drew my own custom Google maps areas and color coded them red/yellow/green based on a "grade" I felt came from a few metrics like crime/average household income/etcI also really like realtors dot com new maps, if you search for an address and click on the map and then go to the top left and choose the Value slider it will give you a nice color coded map of which areas of a neighborhood are higher valued.