This potential home could probably use some cosmetic updates, but should be ready to live in if needed.   

.- House is about 100 years old and other then these problems require lots of cosmetics but in decent shape otherwise.- During the inspection I saw a disconnected downspout just above the area where the bulging is occurring.

A quick background...I'm a 3rd year orthopedic surgery resident and have signed a contract with a hospital in South Georgia where my wife and I plan to set up our life after I complete my training.

If you are considering a property that is in need of extensive repairs, you will need more time to complete that work than if you are buying a house that only needs cosmetic updates.

@Billy Bell Minor cosmetic repair, got a quote for around 7k.

Luckily we’ve only needed to do some cosmetic upgrades.

I have two hip surgeries that need to be done over the course of 2019 that will leave any kind of manual labor impossible.So let me ask you experts- if you were planning to get into RE and someone said you had to wait a year, what would you do to prepare yourself for when you can begin?

Electrical stuff is harder to determine without seeing inside of walls but you can take a peek at the electrical panel to see if it's dated and the load (if you know how)... a pic would work to share with your electrician.The rest is pretty visual and more cosmetic, bathrooms and kitchens are always the most important.

Spot contractors that are BSing you To answer your question more directly, if you are targeting a cosmetic flip, you can bring an inspector, to make sure there’s nothing BIG you are missing.

Agreed... always let them make the first offer....Back in 2005 we paid $22k cash for a property that was moldy & in need of a lot of cosmetic work.