I'm curious about the usual practice in construction projects and whether it's common for general contractors to handle the permit process as part of their services. 

hey @Kapil PatelYes, you can repeat the process every time you buy a primary residence and live in that property for 2 years.When you move on, you are not subject to capital gain tax up to 250K of gain if you are single and 500k if you are a couple.

Finally, I would get started on the FHA/VA certification process early.

This means the rates are better, but again the process can be a headache.Each loans has it's pros/cons, so it's best to know what your goals are to know which route you should take. 

It was a long process, with many unseen predicaments, yet my husband and I are back on the market searching for our next deal soon. 

Live in it for a year or two, move out, rent the remaining room you lived in, and buy a new place to repeat the process.

Then you really need to trick out the design so you stand out on Airbnb.If you're game to hold the property for a while, I think Bacalar is also an interesting place to invest in the area.

In most states the act of foreclosure is a long process (6 months or more).

Some are local people to the listing and assist in boots in the ground activities, others just do guest communications etc.A PM is not necessarily a building manager, but does typically manage the whole process property. 

The Nest thermostats are designed to work over a wireless network so they can be remotely changed, but there would be nothing stopping you from installing one without using it wirelessly and just using it as a regular thermostat.