I would not accept until and unless I see evidence of cosigner's financial status in their home country. 

This requires no money, minimal effort, and you can leverage your veteran status on the calls.

Up until the trustee sale (foreclosure auction), the home is still owned and fully controlled by the home owner.I’m assuming you’re going to be looking at off-market properties (since loan status isn’t something they advertise on the MLS so you likely wouldn’t even know if it was in default if it’s a listed property).So, in that case, you’d just negotiate a purchase agreement with the home owner and then take the contract to your local escrow/title company to open escrow. 

@Eddie TorresI like letters but we’re definitely not allowed to mention familial status (California).  

Especially when you consider REP status from STR management. 

@Becca F. if you add an ADU in San Francisco you change the status of the SFH to a 2 unit building, and then you’re definitely under rent control.

I agree with this answer, people always forget about the material participation requirement that goes in tandem with REP status. 

This is actually not a made-up example, but the status in 2018 when I got into multifamily investing.

Congratulations and shout out to my client's for earning Superhost status well within their first year anniversary of acquisition. 

Your contractor should have at minimum a weekly status update mandatory dictated by them. you need to make sure an in depth scope of work and evaluation is performed especially because you have little experience in evaluating these types of projects.