There are extremely experienced flippers in our market that have it down to a science and have economies of scale with rehabs (they can do them cheaper than you & me because they have their own crew and buy materials wholesale in bulk) and they have acquisition agents calling the listing agents of properties on the MLS daily making cash offers.

Look for 10 x 12 or 10 x 14 bedrooms and 8-9' ceilings, good stucco/brick, clean no/low moisture basement, average shingle roof, etc.  

When a taxpayer's residence qualifies as the principal place of business under IRC Sec. 280A(c)(1)(A), he can deduct all daily transportation costs incurred in going between his residence and other work locations in the same trade or business (Curphey; Rev.

There are likely plenty of people willing to rent for a year:Someone moving to the area and wants to buy a house once they know the place betterSomeone selling a home to move and prefer to sell then buy vs trying to do both concurrentlyRemodeling/Renovating and want to not be effected daily by the constructionSudden job/school/life change that isn't bad, but didn't allow for time to figure out a buying type optionInsurance claim that resulted in the home being uninhabitable....So give it a shot and see what you get with an upfront presentation of what you want out of the lease time frame.

Who can evaluate the source of the moisture?

Taking daily steps towards my first deal.

I must be a control freak because I visit my properties daily during the construction phase.  

I should note - I have no interest in "making my living" on RE, and it's not my daily job.

I’m pretty involved in the construction process, and have been working in the trades for a number of years, i personally don’t like the feeling/anxiety of not being able to be on the job site daily and trusting someone else to deal with aspects of the job.

Two Family was on our daily traveled road on which we had also looked at other two-family and 4-family but did not buy.