@Daniel Wolcott I've been systematically contacted key folks in the market... brokers, lenders, property managers, appraisers etc.

The key is finding that person to do the second, or to have the HELOC capacity to go that route.Dan Dietz

Anyone using  a key cutting  machine to keep costs and time down? 

So if it were me, what I would do is when you collect the keys just ask them for a forwarding address where to mail any balance of their security deposit that may be due to them. 

So I know access and levelness of land is key. 

This helps me run the numbers on the fly and gives me the key figures I need to make a decision on whether to analyze further or not.Hope this helps!

The key aspect is buying the property at less than 75% ARV.

Your outside perspective is very helpful, and your reiterating that the key to success is focus is just what I needed to hear.

Roofing is one of the key jobs in this business, and the more you know about it yourself from a hands-on perspective, the more respect you're going to get from roofers, who tend to be the most clannish and arrogant of tradesmen because they do the most dangerous residential trade, although the actual work itself isn't typically as complicated as more highly paid trades like plumbers and electricians.

If possible, we do not want to exacerbate this (of course if issues arise, we aren't afraid to evict/do cash for keys, but we want to at least try to make it work first).