@Kellie AlkayamI've noticed people tend to sell in the end if they are expecting to lose the property.You could either tell them that you need them to pay up to complete the deal and adjust your offer accordingly or you need to close before the auction date.You may also be able to try contacting the county and see if the parcel can be removed if you supply them with a signed contract.Depending on redemption rights etc you may be able to place a lien sighting the contract to purchase if you can't stop the auction or have the ability to close.

I am an artist, photographer and traveler, born in WA raised in FL, traveled to 13 countries competing in a sport called Flowboarding and landed in Ogden, UT 2 years ago because of my sport.I've decided to stay in one spot for a while and I'm looking for my first home in Salt Lake City to house hack!

Which means building my business into something that is much bigger than supplying my family with a good sustainable income. 

Which means building my business into something that is much bigger than supplying my family with a good sustainable income. 

I work 50-60 hours a week at my w-2 and have 4 kids (all in sports).

Hello real estate peopleI have a situation where this year i have to pay to the IRS on taxes..Situationmy AGI income is 160k....work In IT for a big corporationi have 9 houses, i maxed out the deductions...repairs, supplys, new refrigerators....etc.......i have stopped adding deductions for the realestate as they are not dropping my money due to the IRS..on Tax software...

You don't need a shed unless you plan on keeping things in there after moving out (like a lawn mower if you plan on mowing the lawn after moving out, tools, supplies etc.).A carport seems excessive (I know it gets hot in Texas but a tenant is more likely to drive into it and knock it over - I wouldn't put anything past tenants).As far as countertops go it depends on what the current counters look like.

Contractors are in high demand right now and some trades like framers are in short supply. 

This time we're buying from a contractor supply house rather than from the big box stores.

In prior years, I listed them as "supplies" and split the cost equally among my active properties on Schedule E, but now I am wondering if they should have been "assets" instead.