all awesome info...I relate to this as I am often out of country..I have bought through trusted eyes for a buy/hold, never a flip.....could you chime in on either..1.regarding an online auction purchase, and seemingly growing trend... they seem to all say "as is", no contingencies, no views, no diligence...how in goodness name can you confidently make an offer on an online auction w/ no walk through contingency?

When you dealing with really motivated sellers, you don't play your cards right and they can lose everything.

I'm wondering if there are any meetings on the weekends in the Tucson area, any time works, so I can meet, discuss, pick some brains and maybe play this cashflow game I've heard so much about.

Being relatively new to landlording, would you work with him, or do you think he's playing games?

I have asked if anyone here has bought from online auctions and didn't find anyone.   

I highly recommend reading How to be a Landlord written by a Newton, MA lawyer:http://www.attorneyross.com/landlord.pdfI use Lease Runner to create my Massachusetts leases & accompanying documents which are then signed online by me and my tenant.

I do appreciate and believe in an equity play, but I would still want to break even with cash flow.

If the contractor is in such dire financial straights to be playing Ponzi games, no matter how 'great' they were in the past, you don't want to be the guy holding the bag.

Hi @Amy GardnerUnfortunately, unless they have their CC&R's online, you'd probably have to call the HOA management company for a copy of the CC&R's or just simply ask them if they allow short term rentals. 

Find online research that discusses the merits of various markets specifically related to cashflow investing.