For example, I look for properties I can rent out with some rehab; a flipper who plans to do a total rehab would not care much that the current kitchen/bath can be acceptable for a rental, they would gut to studs anyway and replace.

1) I  DO NOT accept anyone else's report but my own.

I thought the deal was dead, but the offer was actually accepted about a week later.

Probably the fact that they thinking out the hundreds of deals that have to write at 65% of Arv and the fact most investors are flipping contracts and failing to close on the occasional deal they do get accepted

Find, buy as residence and live in, fix, then after a year rent out... that's acceptable for government money.

Why would they accept that?

I have had my first offer accepted and now needing to send the contract.

I they would accept $1 a year until it is paid off I might actually pay DOUBLE what they were asking. 

It's a long shot depending upon factors that include the owner's fiancial profile, but a bank may want to do a SS vs foreclosure.If the bank will accept a SS have him list it with an agent and make an offer.  

WHY are you getting pulls on credit without an accepted property under contract??