i dont mind paying closing costs but a huge reason for the VA loan is that we are SUPPOSED to pay closing costs and IF we can get a conventional loan that has closing costs included they would be cheaper right??

Here's my understanding of how this is suppose to work, correct me if I'm wrong:Up till we transfer his half to me our Schedule E's will both show half of everything and be essentially identical.While we are partners, neither of us can deduct our labor as an expense on the schedule E, but if contributions get uneven a check should be written from one partner to the other to even it out, but that's not reported anywhere.When He transfers his half I can pay him managing fee's and labor cost for his repairs and deduct them.

I suppose you could search for homes owned by the banks and approach them directly before they list them with Realtors.

You don't really "miss" a month of mortgage payments -- interest is paid *after* it accrues, so the month that you're supposedly missing is just being paid on the first of the following month.So, while technically it's true that you're missing a month of payments this year, that final payment gets paid at the end of the loan, "adding" a month of payments in the final year.

The downspout most likely feeds into a drainage pipe that is supposed to carry the stormwater away from the foundation.

They had some guy supposedly from South Missouri hawking these courses.

I suppose it gives an impression of someone who is a bit more like them than the stereotype of super wealthy landlords that many tenants seem  to believe. 

The floor drain might not be tied in directly to a dedicated discharge line like it's supposed to.

I suppose you can give the steam clean a shot since it's by far the easiest and cheapest to try, but it's also very unlikely to give you good results.  

@James Wise   My partner is supposed to be meeting her at the property as we speak to show it to her.