At the least, visit the property and look around as much as you can.Good luck!

I plan to spend extended periods of time stationary in some countries to learn foreign languages, vagabonding through other countries, with stints in the USA for fly fishing road trips and visits with friends and family.

Just a heads up Ed.

., a southeastern suburb of Atlanta.Operating from the firm’s largest branch office at a former meatpacking plant in Atlanta, Starwood Waypoint’s acquisitions team evaluates potential purchases with a data map that ranks the “livability” of local neighborhoods according to information provided by local employees of the firm who frequently visit the area.

Why not go ahead and buy.  

Property is vacant and needs work, not sure how much because I am not going to waste time visiting the property until I get a signed contract back from them, which should be in the next few days.  

Go pay them a visit and drop off a three day notice while you are there.

Legitimate contractors will not want to even visit the house if you tell them what your expectation of cost is... and they will know after looking that writing an estimate would just be a further waste of time. 

Thanks ahead of time!

I was just going to go ahead and buy the course for $395, now I can see that you can get a discount, which will definitely be welcomed!