Just keep in mind that you sign a document at closing and make a commitment that you will owner occupy the property for 12 months.

It's always worth looking into but if you have a term sheet or commitment that may be expiring, you may want to act before you lose what you have. 

@Alfredo Franco only if you want to commit mortgage fraud.

Also keep the possibility open that these people are lying and they are the ones that committed the crime. 

Since I am an hour from the area and work and have family commitments I cannot just jump in my car and check out properties when one becomes available.

All of the above is a personal opinion so please make sure to do your hw before committing to a rental property.

-Committed suicide (thank goodness, not in the house!

And have been wondering, since I have seen her request for help, if she knows something, which has not occurred to me, that some people would rather be living in Montana, in 2020, given the threat of COVID-19, & who wish to escape places where this virus is more prevalent.

Two years ago I committed myself to learn real estate investing and the first big hurdle I had to cross was figuring out how to analyze deals.

Doing your first flip and visiting the job site several times a week is hard enough, but you've multiplied your problems by doing this from 3,000 miles away.I'm also concerned that you did not have a good/realistic idea of the rehab costs before you made your offer and committed to buying the property.