Spend a designated amount of time searching and learning about your target areas each and every day.  

He is a contractor and I am an Interior designer. 

In other words, this was a "needle in the haystack" event.In terms of making the process smoother if damage does occur, I might recommend a recent article I wrote for Community Investor: http://communityinvestor.com/index.php/component/c...

I know it's not ideal in todays market but when house was constructed in the 1930 it was the go to design.

His dad said he license training is designed to teach an agent how to stay out of jail, whereas proper self-directed investor training would teach him how to invest and manage investments strategies, tenants, etc. 

Unless of course you move in and designate the property as a primary.If you care to share, I am curious, who is the work out specialist?  

If it's insurable with escrow then HUD will set aside the designated amount for the repairs noted on the property report.

I'm also a contracted web designer during the day and this is also considered 1099 or miscellaneous income.  

Focusing your efforts on making the house clean, functional, efficient, and inviting will probably go further than worrying about what color paint or design style.  

I'm not committed to a designated loan agent.