My two questions are how much actual physical time must I spend their so it may be considered and treated as my actual "registered" place of business by the tax man? 

There are very nice benefits for being a Pro member and even though I haven't downloaded the ebooks I bet they are content full.Guru's are all about upselling.  

that depends on the builder... if they did a good job, that's probably the only one that will occur. talk to the neighbors and i bet they have the same cracks. ask them if it leaks.dont finish the basement. the ROI is not worth it unless you have done the numbers.

I made a big bet on Detroit, I bought 25 properties at rock bottom prices.  

I seriously doubt a judge would remove someone from title simply because they couldn't be served.If there is animosity between the two, then the best bet would be for You to find the girl friend, as a neutral third party, bearing gifts.

Frankly I'm a bit jealous.The best way to learn a language is to just dive right and get wet; I'm willing to bet learning facets of real estate is no different.

Networking with local wholesalers at your REIA might be your best bet.

It seems like every single person who knows the comparable home sales in the area and understands that their teir house needs repairing (and I bet they would underestimate these costs) would ask at least $125,000.Is finding properties as hard as it sounds?

Physically in between the entrances to those is a stairwell that leads to 6 apartments on the 2nd and 3rd floors.

I am just looking for some guidance on how to physically get the seller financing in place and a legal note created.