If you can show that the need for having the out of office location is for certain tasks (like the ones you mentioned), whereas your home office is necessary to complete tasks that can't be done at the rented place (say, performing work in total privacy with no distractions), then the IRS will permit you to deduct the cost renting out of home space with the deduction for your home office. 

Just doesn't seem to make sense to put in new flooring that may last 7-10 years, and have to do the foundation in 5 and tear the floor up.

Once that peters out, these investors are left holding the bag - they put in cash into the deals.

I don't really have a great way of doing it, but I put in my market "Sacramento" and then I Put in my local city "San Jose."

I put in the contract that she would be responsible for any past due tax owed on the property.

When its all said and done, how much will the seller actually put in their pocket?

I spent a few days coming up with a application that will pull all the e-mails address from the last few days of "real estate for sale - owner " sectionIt would then send all of those folks a ( call me I want to see the house and put in an offer e-mail )I ran the program once, most of the folks that called want top dollar or market value.

Worst case, put in a 1 year CD and make a risk-free small profit

Basically one thing all 3 said in common is that I need a new drainage system put in (a drain tile system and a sump pump).

You could always opt to put in ceramic tile or hard wood floors in place of carpet.