I've been doing a great deal of listening, watching, reading and practicing.

I have not going to be buying this as I don't yet have my bank set up so this is just me practicing.

Half for me to practice on, and half because I can run to a partner/mentor type person in my area if I need to.

Every student rental i have, My PM has the parents co-sign, i told them it's a must and was a practice of theirs anyway.

Do Not do this on your own.....you're getting into the "practicing law without a license" territory.  

It is a common practice.

Took about 4 weeks and I was ready for the their practice test.  

I'm in a somewhat similar situation; not that my husband's not interested, he thinks he can't do any of the research/buying since he's not a native English speaker nor familiar with this aspect of the culture (never mind that my whole post-college life has been spent outside the USA, so I'm quite clueless about many things).

All the numbers that in there is practically a guesstimate based on the contractors who saw the pictures that I sent him, and I also made the number large  than usual, I could be completely off, but I think I'd rather be off  bigger off too little. 

There is also extensive drywall damage (including some visible mold in one small area) due to roof leaks, some which my inspector feels are active leaks, and a septic water level warning light.I was told by the management company that an OO doesn't have an inspection period (not true) and that HUD will never do any repairs (per their handbook they can repair major--roof, electrical, plumbing, structural, septic--issues at their discretion if previously undisclosed but uncovered by OO's professional inspector and reported to HUD within 15 days, don't know about in practice).