@Zeona McIntyre seems like the Covid work-remote craze is over.

*Selling Expenses – Realtor commissions, closing costs, and staging expensesA good way to gauge the maximum investment in a property is the 70% Rule, which states investors should pay no more than 70% of the after-repair value (ARV) of the property — renovation costs included.

Either way, there are several people who make this work all the time.

I'm still waiting for luck;-) Actually, when I work Hard/Smart luck does appear;-)

Usually the numbers don't work to build in these neighborhoods, unless government tax credits, etc.CCLBA has really cheap parcels for sale for owner occupants.

I came across an RE opportunity that seems too good to be true but number works.

It sounds like a big misunderstanding and I guess the learning lesson is for you to always to get an invoice from anyone doing work.  

How do you know what areas co-living could work? 

The stock account is tanking, you see no hope for it to return, and you want to preserve the remainder of the principal;3.

Not really no.