Quote from @Tove Fox: I live in California and am interested in purchasing my first investment property in an A or B neighborhood in one of the above states, ideally under $300k.

A good way into it may be doing a house hack or live and flip then pulling the equity out in a refinance.Tons of ways to make money in this game!

If they do, you may have a chance under the scenario you're proposing - if they share your concern for it's condition (although that seems unlikely since they've been living with it the way it is for some time, it seems).If you own it, it's pretty lowbrow to expect a neighbor to invest in your property. 

Hey DenisI have commented a lot about arbitrage in a general sense here, however I believe I am uniquely qualified to answer here as I live and operate about 65 units in this specific market.In 2016 I got my STR start arbitraging a Gulf Front mansion that was in foreclosure and I got a great deal on. 

I’ve been managing commercial real estate for about 10 years and want to start investing in real estate.Outside of real estate, I enjoy golf, live music, hanging out with friends and familyExcited to learn and connect with you all!

When you sign almost all mortgage closing packages, you are signing an Occupancy Clause that states you are intending to live in the home for 12 months.  

4o Hi Monty, I Live 15 minutes from the freeport area with building and flipping experience.

There's definitely a few things to note since you are residing in Europe, most of the investors we work with that live over there do put it in an entity but there are a few details for how that would work since you aren't necessarily local. 

That’s when I realized I already had a strong connection to the Tampa Bay area—my aunts and uncles live in Largo, just 30 minutes from this home.

If you are buying to live in, you could also do FHA with a cosigner.