I am sure there are people who did it, even on this forum I saw posts by multiple users who claimed that they were successful doing this method.

I could feasibly pursue multiple deals and if I find one in an area I’d like to live once I move back to the US, I would like the option of renting it out while still living abroad but being able to move in and refi to a better deal with an owner-occupier loan.   

I'm sure y'all already knew that!

PS before the hedge funds jumped in about 2011 to 2012 I was an activce courthouse buyer in Henry county and a few of the counties on the north side of Atl metro so been to many of the  auctions having them all on one day is a cluster .. you have multiple criers crying sales simultainously it can be hard to follow but you can also squeeze out one that folks missed.. we did quite well until the hedge funds knocked us little guys out of the area..

I've done it multiple times on primary residence and was just able to do it on an investment with a local CT bank. 

Since you are splicing multiple pictures, why not show a good one of the game room and other other key parts of the house instead of all of the game room?

I run multiple properties in B or C area and I maintain super host status every quarter.

Quote from @Aaron Letzeiser: Quote from @Mohit Gupta: @Steven Toth I was actually able to find multiple carriers who would insure for a slightly higher premium, which I am happy to pay.

If you're tax bill is $6-8k (minus the 1031 fees), surely you can make that up by taking multiple swings over a longer period of time.OR pursue some sort of owner occupied strategy with that cash if you can swing a live in flip or house hack.

Typically a solid GP would reach at a 2x multiple in 5 years, taking your 500k to 1MM.