But I love this as a career so it was a natural step. 

I wanted to see if anyone could shed some light on the possibility of using the VA loan to my advantage.

There's a natural fear, "If I find a seller, but I can't find a buyer, what do I do?" 

There is still a balance of $255 that has not been deducted.Thing is not only was the damage done but the landlord left the tenant without heat or lights for 5 days, with power still surging into the house system. 

Just seems like a "thin" situation, especially in light of the time constraints of a quick closing.

Green Lights I Used to Ignore the Red Flags:1.

This route has allowed us to modernize the home with features local buyers expect like outdoor soffit lighting and contemporary can lights throughout the living areas. 

Find a good local (or a couple) attorneys and see if they can shed light on the legality of your plan.

In addition to daytime with daylight photos as mentioned, make sure ALL lights are on, the more light the better.

But I am wondering if my insurance would cover if they accidentally damage or burn part of the house (due to the extra wiring and lights in the garage)?