Living in Florida where the weather is super hard on exteriors, I like the idea of condos because the HOA takes care of the outside.

Not a huge deal because I probably won't be selling it.Option #2:  Use the $33k HELOC I currently have and get an additional business line of credit or hard money load at a higher interest rate.  

I would personally then use the 40-50k to increase my buying power using Hard Money/ Angel Funds/Etc. 

Are any of you using hard money lenders on your flips? 

But if you are a US citizen with no family connections to Europe/UK, it's going to be hard to obtain residence and work authorization.  

My suggestion is for you to think hard if you can handle a flip.

Go to your local rent court proceedings for eviction - you surely will find some referrals thereAsk the tenant to manage themselves - they can call for maintenance - and deposit their rent check into your account at the bank when due - give them deposit slipsTrain someone to do the things you don't want to do - pay them a percentage of the rent - there are lots of folks who would love to do this for youManagement takes a big bit out of your profits - be smart save the bucks - do it yourself - it ain't that hard.

Malcolm Douglas I think the next result is that these are hard lots to "pencil-out" for outsiders or to develop.

Like many other young professional we thought buying a place a soon as possible would be the best thing we could do with our hard earned money.

Probably going to have a hard time to find folks in FL right now....