If the Tax Protest Company can reduce my taxes by $1,000, and I have to pay them 40%, or $400, that is less than it would cost for me to travel there and do it myself.What am I missing here that could cause a problem?

Any conventional lender is going to require the property to be habitable which means not only a functional kitchen and bathroom but permitted.

I believe positive habits and hard work bring luck. 

I have spent close to the last year travelling abroad through South America and North Africa.

It seems to be a desirable path, especially with long-term loan rates being 3-4%, and with the inflation of the dollar it seems like a good idea to take on fixed, manageable debt..Anyway, I have about $15k in cash saved and would like to travel and look up different cities that seem to have a healthy pulse to them, currently looking at Indianapolis as an example.

Not sure if he will travel there but it's worth a call. 

While I love my work, I can't do the constant travel forever (hence my motivation to get into REI).

We're both non-smokers (a property that hasn't been smoked in would be outstanding) who seek a 3+ bedroom (possibly 2 bedroom if there were a separate office), 1.5+ bathroom house with a fenced yard, garage (2+ car preferred) in a very safe & secure neighborhood (I will travel some for work). 

If you are ever traveling through Dallas, I go through this in my 3 day training in detail.  

Because I want to travel more.