Definitely tread carefully here to avoid any discrimination claims!

Beyond carefully vetting the tenants, how can an investor protect themselves from squatters if we want to sell years down the road?

It is clearly possible to do well here, but as expats I believe you need to be extremely careful in entering the market.

I also agree with No. 2, and I've seen some of my STR clients welcomed by their neighbors after taking over a ramshackle place that wasn't cared for.

You have to understand that these people don't care about anything, and the government people are overworked and will not follow up with all the small cases. 

A reliable tenant stays for many years, pays the rent on schedule, and takes good care of the property.Reliable tenants are the exception, not the norm.

Be careful.

Are there other more creative ways to start cash flowing in year one Be careful because federal mortgage fraud and going to jail is a real thing.

Higher-quality areas attract tenants who are more reliable and tend to take better care of the property.

She would be putting all the cash down for the property and I'm a contractor and would take care of all of the rehab work along with finding the house, dealing with real estate agent etc. how can we make it so that it would be 50-50 ownership of the property and all future profit?