First time I did this my first contractor flaked and it delayed the process finding another.

For what it's worth, I started out at age 22, the house was kind of dumpy so I did some initial, minimal cosmetic fixes and got a couple of roommates while I lived in the basement, which was not finished and served as a pretty powerful motivator to get it finished in my spare time.

It can be tempting yes.But you should really weigh the risk, the amount of money you’ll have to offset from your appreciation by losing cash flow every month, the delays that can occur in corporate moves, a general downturn in the market, etc.

I’ve received several recommendations including rehabbing one unit at a time while keeping the other units occupied to minimize holding expenses, while others have suggested vacating the entire property upfront prior to renovations.

I would be hesitant with this specific deal because the cash flow is too minimal for my liking, and the ARV doesn't pan out. 

When you buy with other loans and put minimal down payment, you end up having to pay PMI which usually destroys any cashflow.

I don't know OH, but the other judicial states I've foreclosed in, mediation and delay tactics are mostly pre-judgment.

What are the most common reasons for delays? 

I currently live in South Austin and would prefer to minimize my commute if at all possible.

To minimize your risks you will need to get good at evaluating sponsors.