Your coworker's goal and objectives should drive the decision.

You need to have a clearer idea of your objective.

Try as they might to be objective, appraisals are still subjective to a degree.

This all depends on your dates for your objections, you need to look at your contract and talk with your agent?

When demand drastically exceeds supply, prices detaches and escalates.Just about most LA investors I talk to, cite that their primary objective for investing in LA to be speculation on appreciation... its already a negative cash flow market for the CF investor.

In those areas, there is always a number of people for which money is no object which generally speaking drives the price up and means that investing metrics are skewed.

The objective being to partner and rehab full time in  Pinellas and Sarasota Counties. 

Course, if you build the thing and later move out, then rent both, I don't see many neighborhoods that would notice or object

My first objective is to broaden my education and knowledge, then hopefully make some new friends and contacts, and eventually begin my own personal real estate investing ventures.Excited to become an active member of the community!

Moreover, this tenant does not object should you, the landlord, choose to provide the services of a certified fire inspector in making such a determination.