Should I continue to pursue this or wait until I return from overseas? 

As a PM I return calls/emails as quickly as possible or at least say "I'm really busy at the moment I'll call in X time".In any event, acknowledging the contact at a minimum.

In this analysis, income stability takes precedence over job stability. 4155.1 4.D.1.d Borrowers Returning to Work After Extended Absences A borrower’s income may be considered effective and stable when recently returning to work after an extended absence if he/she is employed in the current job for six months or longer, and can document a two year work history prior to an absence from employment using traditional employment verification, and/or copies of W-2 forms or pay stubs. 

Calculate the return a pool would have and it'll make the decision for you.

Definitely recommend you run the numbers and a quick way to do so before you get too deep and waste alot of time is to write down this:Purchase Price Cash to Close Rent-------------------- Property Tax per monthInsurance per month HOA Mortgage Vacancy (x%) Repairs (x%) Property Mgmt (x%) Total Expenses: XThen find out your cash flow INCOME - EXPENSESCap Rate NET ANNUAL -MORTGAGE ANNUAL / PURCHASE PRICECash on Cash Return NET ANNUAL +MORTGAGE ANNUAL / PURCHASE PRICETakes like 10 to 15 mins to evaluate the numbers.

Hi BP,I have a friend of mine bought a land through tax foreclosure auction...he bought it without doing any due diligence ahead of time, anyways he found out its a very small lot and worth nothing if he is trying to sell.The appraisal value is $12k and he paid a bit less but no body would buy such lot on the market...somebody told him to donate the land to the city or the county or some sort of organization that helps people and file it on his tax return as deduction. my questions are: 1- Any suggestions who to target to donate the land 2- If he donated the land can he file it as a loss or deduct it from his tax refund at the end of the year...he is entitled to pay some capital gain taxes on other properties he sold so this deduction will definitely help.3- If point 2 is doable will he be able to file based on the appraisal value $12k?

I think it is a bit greedy, but this is our first with potential for great returns

You'd be better off partnering with one or two other people in a deal this size to increase returns for everyone.

Often it is 2 year tax return, paystubs.

This is called a COC or 'cash on cash return.