Typically anything that needs to be done to the property will be noted on the appraisal, so it's odd if nothing was mentioned until the last minute....it will show that the value is "subject to _______________________" and this is where they will add things that need to be done before closing.

I live in central Oregon, a HIGH cost of living area...I live in a great apartment complex and rents are at least $500/mo lower than a typical mortgage here.I am thinking about buying an investment BEFORE my permanent residence to keep my monthly CF and savings high.What are the pros and cons?

Real estate websites such as Realtor.com, Redfin, and Zillow can give details on recent sales in the area.Use Real Estate Investment Calculators: Take into consideration utilizing additional online real estate investment calculators in addition to the BiggerPockets rental property calculator.

Typically investors use alternative financing to get around thee DTI requirements.

The issue with the metering and utilities is something we look for day one.

I will say if you have a good agent they will have contacts for GC's and property management making it much more passive than a typical project will be.

Nothing wrong with investing there, but just understand that things are typically "cheap" and "expensive" for a reason. 

Don't utilize a title company to create these documents and definitely don't google for any doc templates on the internet.

There is no such thing as a "standard fee," however each agent has a fee that they typically use based on how they want to get paid.

I've found that typically in those markets, you are buying a property that is likely to appreciate less over time compared to other markets, but are consistent in bringing in cash flow, which sounds like is what you are looking for.