It really makes no difference whatsoever…as you will be getting title insurance, either way, and if you ever have a title issue that’s who you would go to anyway…not the previous owner.It has effect on you or the lender, as long as you get owners title insurance (the lender will require lender’s title insurance in any case).You can sell with General Warranty deed when you sell.

Property tax is public record, you can look up a neighbor's property.Ask a neighbor about their utility costs.Call an insurance broker and get a quote based on your build specs.

are your getting traveling nurses, business professionals, displaced families, insurance claims etc?

Insurance will cover the cost of rebuilding.

One strategy for acquiring a coastal vacation property or future primary can be to secure and operate the property as a mid or short term rental to help sustain or offset the investment.

I'm trying to figure out a strategy on buying real estate from the seller on payments, adding value and reselling it for profit and thus, paying off the original seller.

Ideally, the guest pays (however that is- whether it's their insurance, etc.).

I would say to look at all strategies. it's more about who your team is, their sophistication, etc. we do everything on data and underwrite every deal and help answer a million questions which makes it easy. your team is everything. happy to chat about columbus I'll shoot you a PM

You have more costs than the mortgage and HOA-does it cover property taxes, insurance and maintenance/repairs? 

San Jose is obviously a tough market to start in for cash flow - are you looking at any remote investing markets/strategies?