I was looking for something that was really low risk, this house was really cheap & the amount of work that it needed was minimal.

But free it ain't, and seek to pay slave labor cheap, well, your gonna get what you went for.

Land is just so darn cheap here, we can put a house on an acre of land.  

Even powers of sale/foreclosures just don't go that cheap up here.But having said that, it doesn't mean you can't still market to potential sellers...it just won't be as laser-targeted as the list companies can offer in the US.

Now the cost of those things above is very cheap as there is minimal involvement with me personally.

Buildings are not cheap in Seattle, WA.

Pros to HELOC: cheap to get in place, most are interest only in the early years and repayment in the latter years.

Has a vaper barrier to protect even more.When it is time for me to sell we will pull up the "cheap stuff" and refinish them.

The seller will cheap out and you'll end up with half done or poorly done work 9/10 times.

haha)You never know she might not, FaceTime is pretty good, and free, and you could always pop back on a flight for cheap for a few home cooked meals.