I am just unsure where the contact between myself and the appraiser comes into play when the lender is the one ordering the appraisal.

i am a 20 year old investor in mass that has found a duplex for 120k, it has been updated in the top floor and the outsides look great and i am scheduling to go see it.

Here is generally how the strategy plays out: when a sponsor acquires a property, performs a cost segregation study, and takes the bonus election, the portion of the property's value that is allocated to land improvements gets depreciated 100% in the same calendar year the property was purchased.

This doesn't sound like a class A or B area at that price hence you're playing the cash flow card and not the appreciation play so ensure the cash flow is worth it. 

Currently I am a senior in college on track to graduate with my Bachelor's degree in Management and Administration; however, I have two years of eligibility to play golf and get any kind of graduate school paid for completely.

I’m going to play therapist here…(I’m not a therapist)I think your real fear is making a bad decision and failing which is normal.

I think the appreciation play is solid over time but proximity is hard to pass up for rental demand.  

Key features of Denver’s short-term rental laws, rules, and regulations include:All short-term rentals must have a license.Any short-term rental must be the host’s primary residence.All advertisements must display the host’s business license number.All short-term rental hosts must follow rules related to safety, taxes, zoning, and insurance.Hosts who do not follow the rules could be fined, or could lose their license.It sure seems like you’d be risking your primary home and it’s equity on a speculation play.

But recognize that if your agent is educating you along the way, and helping you to understand the market, even if you find one off market, they brought you value too and played a role in your success.

I figure with rent increases year on year cash flow will increase substantially and this is more of an appreciation play as well