Years ago my business and real estate tax expert taught me there is always a legal way to make it work in your favor using the Internal Revenue Code.   

The facade is intact, but much of the internal structure is lost.

Rehab includes paint (internal and external), new floors (wood composite, not expensive and carpet), bathroom upgrade (counter tops, fixtures), kitchen upgrade (cabinet paint, fixtures, back splash).

Indy has recently become a destination spot for dining out and has been drawing international attention for it.

We currently have a house listed with another broker, because we are in a high end market, and the brokerage is part of Christie's, and they have much higher visibility than we would as independents, and many buyers in our market in O.C. are international buyers, so it makes sense.

@Ming LimHow effective will the speculation tax without real market data (none is officially collected by the government) to identify the current mix of foreign versus home grown speculators.Also, with allowing exceptions/rebates for working foreign nationals and international students, you still leave the door open to Mom & Dad buying a house or condo for little Senhua/Michaela/Suzie/Lucia to attend university in Canada ... and another for her little brother the following year.

I contacted the listing agent, who said I can make an offer contingent upon an internal visual inspection.

I interned for a summer with insurance salesman and they loved selling whole life insurance because they made such a huge commission off it.

However "Under Section 1031 of the United States Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 1031), a taxpayer may defer recognition of capital gains and related Federal income tax liability on the exchange of certain types of property."

While going to school maybe you can intern for a developer, homebuilder, etc.