He also said my GC could complete the install and knock 20k off the total, which I would do, so the total seems to be 355k to get the home in place.

Why pay rent when your landlord gives you free housing, free maintenance team, free mortgage, free electricity, free water, free trash?

Prices are around $300K for what he's looking for (total costs around $2000/mo, and income will be around $4439/mo... but if he has 2 roommates each paying $700/month, it's totally doable. 

I totally agree with @Caleb Brown, especially the part about consistency!

Feel free to inquire about their staff qualifications if it's a larger organization.2.

However, I wouldn't say it is a complete tax-free strategy. 

That alone can free up so many avenues for you.  

Totally up to you.

-- We focus on verifying 2-year work history and verifying rent payments with last 2 landlords (unless in same property for 5+ years).3) MoveIn Specials: be careful with offering "free rent" as will just attract tenants with no cash.-- Try free TV or something else worth 25-50% of one month of rent.-- Or, what we do is offer the free rent AFTER & ONLY if they pay their first 3 months of rent on time to earn it.4) Lower the rent 5% every 2-4 weeks until activity picks up.5) Understand this is the worst time of year to find tenants.-- Starts picking back up end of February when this tenant pool starts getting their income tax refunds and aren't broke anymore.6) Section 8: where is the property being advertised?

If you just want to do buy and hold, you can purchase a duplex in a B area for around 150-180k with rents at around $2400/mo total.