Saying NCF (even small) in the beginning is better than paying for it with a bigger DP is like saying you would rather die from complications by getting an infection from cutting your finger cooking in the kitchen, than having the kitchen fall on your head.Sorry about adding to your anxiety. 

@Aaron Gordy who knows what they have cooking up over there!

They buy few parcels from me at discount from expected retail price (at one or few different subdivisions / geographical locations) and start bragging to their friends / family that they're following my steps in investing & flipping vacant land.

Call me at 678-532-8870 if you need more details.

It was an owner finance deal, so I put down $15k and he is financing the other $430k for me at 6% interest, amortized over 30 years, with 2 years interest only and a balloon payment due in 8 years.

Personally, I’m not willing to buy a VR unless I know it will make me at least $1k/month due to how active the business is.

Read books like Rich Dad Poor Dad, all BP books, consume podcasts on investing stories like BP, go to meat ups and get involved in people near you that are investors.

If I were looking to rent a house, this would not be a deal breaker for me at all.

If you did decide to just include the heat and compensate for the rent...you can get special thermostats that have a limited range so they can't cook the place.

For instance, purchases or repairs exceeding $500 require the owner's permission (as expected from property management).You do not need to sign a contract with them as I did; I did the math, and signing the contract set me at a fixed rate of 11.5% of the rent, which I was already budgeted for and okay with.