Which crime rate is acceptable for a buy and hold property?

DON'T even accept the code by any means whatsoever. 

The benefit of an installment contract is the buyer can operate the property as an owner and pay down the total due for sale earning equity or bring the actual funds needed at the time of financing to an acceptable market level.  

When you have a SPECIFIC REASON to extend it (after having gone in with 10 days), like an inspection report noting a foundation issue (or whatever) that you can show if needed, most reasonable sellers will get it, accept the extension, and commence to prayers. 

If you will be using financing, you'll need to submit earnest money, but it won't be placed in escrow until your offer is accepted.  

Yes, we are now another full time investor.One delay in permitting was that they only accept residential permit applications on certain days of the week and during very short time windows.

No one wants to sell (no surprise) and the one's who do won't accept FHA financing.

Did we learn anything, yes but alot of half-truths too.Came home and created a Nevada S-Corp and put an LLC under it, assuming we would go national.Property bought was in Calif, so more expense to Foreign File both entities.Started looking into creating my own Property Mgmt (PM) business to control out-of-state holdings.Then I learned:PM requires a broker's license or to be under his control almost everywhereThat stopped National expansionwhich then made the S-Corp and LLC unnecessary (to me; I accepted personal risk)Did get good liability insurance and suggest an extra Umbrella policy if you're going to buy&hold (aka become a landlord).

I have been visiting family most every year and now that I've retired I have been residing in both countries during the year I sold my ranch in Oz in 2010 and bought my first sfr in the central valley in 2012 cash during the next couple of years I tried to by others but could not get finance,as it turns out for various reasons i.e. no credit score for lack of history for the years I was away, foreign assets and income is not acceptable here in the U.S.  

@Kris Haskins If your market is as hot as mine then I would just pull the plug and put it back on the market and accept only conventional finance or cash offers...price it aggressively to attract more buyers.