Hardly a week goes by when I don't hear about another study about the benefits animals bring to humans, for cancer patients, autism, Alzheimers, etc.Nevertheless, it remains a fact that there are people out there scamming the system.

How to communicate with the agent and indirectly with the homeowners who were selling.

Is that the only way to receive tax benefits?

Are the fees and everything worth the tax benefits when talking about this amount of money?

With a first walk through I'm more concerned with risks than benefits of adding rooms/baths, etc, because I'm looking for buy and holds not short term flips.Biggies (for me, other people will have different lists): foundation issues, roof issues (look at the roof itself and any signs of water damage on ceilings and walls), mold (beyond a little where things need fixing), leaks in showers that are hard to get at, squishy subfloors around toilets and tubs, termites, knob-and-tube wiring, ungrounded, two-prong outlets, no central HVAC (this is all about your location, some places this is fine), and to a lesser extent water heaters.Heavy duty foundation or mold issues I would pass up, the rest I would consider in my offer price. 

If both, what are the benefits of opening up either one right now?

I have always been self employed so I don't have the luxury of company retirement benefits and so on!

While it is possible that a fancy asset protection set up might give you some negotiation leverage with such a claimant, this ephemeral "benefit"  is probably not worth the cost in most situations.The idea that there are unscrupulous attorneys out there that first look for equity and then manufacture reasons to sue you is a fear pitch used by asset protection salespersons, but it is not really based on any kind of reality in my experience.

I’m currently deployed overseas and looking to take advantage of my VA home loan benefits to invest once I get home. 1.)

Is there a benefit to the potential seller?