@Scott RayWhat you are paying is normal and not double taxation.If you want to only pay tax in the U.S.A., while residing in Canada, then you would need to hold the assets in an incorporated entity.  

Charlottesville permitting is usually a nightmare and I can tell you that if you are trying to do something like that fully up to code then the city's standard is going to be more or less the same as a normal house/structure.

Looks like a normal C- Ohio crapbox.

Sometimes they don’t like that because you don’t have skin in the game.As for advantages to the seller - are you going to pay them more for the property, that would be a perk that I offer in addition to making a little extra on interest for the duration of the loan.

I’m also a long term equity guy, so just having tenant pay my mortgage is enough of a deal in current climate.On the positive rents are very high for this area and even this time of year when normally I’d see no leads for an open unit I’m seeing 1-2 a week for unit we’re remodeling.Good luck in the search and congrats for doing it yourself.  

Additionally, I normally build in at least 7% of the purchase price going towards transaction costs when selling a property.

Any advice on the normal process you use prior to making an offer would be greatly appreciated. 

This saved my skin on the exit!

Then compare that with your normal 30-year fixed.

The odors are not always easy to eliminate within the normal apartment turnover routine.