Days wind down and now they have a (knee jerk) reaction and buy something non-optimal for a property just to avoid tax penalties.Had they been realistic starting out they would have had time to locate quality properties to buy instead of looking for a Unicorn.

If an operator is not responding to you adequately - in timing or quality - prior to you wiring them $50,000, you have to ask yourself how will they respond after they already have your money? 

Risk assessment and mitigation: Quick analysis of crime rates, school quality, economic stability and environmental risks. 5.

I think their general stance is going to be to go with whichever comparable property has the greatest degree of similarity in terms of (probably, in this order): location, age built, quality of construction/current condition, and square footage.

Of course, many investors bend/break this rule, but that's another risk.2) If your bid wins the foreclosure auction, you then have to deal with getting rid of any occupants - who may steal/damage everything they can in retaliation:(3) You MUST have a great crew on the ground that can minimize surprises - not easy to do on your first deal.Regardless if you buy a foreclosure or other property, read our copy & paste advice below:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

For someone that's not as conservative, or a different view on the cycle, they might have a different opinion than me on all of this.2) Sponsor quality check: (takes about 45 minutes per deal)I believe that a great sponsor can take an average looking deal and make it great, and that in mediocre sponsor can take a fantastic looking deal and make it bad (especially if there is a severe recession).

Under bidding, poor quality, not following timelines - those will all kill your project.

A quality deal you have control (under contract, seller only wants to work with you, etc.)3.) 

The allowed rent amount should be pegged to market rent, so it would only be way off if your unit is a way different quality or neighborhood compared to average. 

A lot of people will pay $1200/nt for 4 crappy budget motel 6 quality rooms at the All-Star resort rather than $175/nt for an 8br themed out mansion with a private pool, theater, and $30,000 arcade room.To answer your original question on investing over a long-term period, that is really this market's main strength.