Appreciation will be low, and it would be harder to sell when / if the time comes (again, people point to that often times cheap houses sits on markets for months at a time, versus in seattle it sells like hot cakes)Upside of local investment is that it appears “safer” - I know the market, I can drive to it to make sure no one “Morris”ed me, and when the time comes to sell / 1031 - hey, it’s easy, and it most likely will come with good appreciation (I know, appreciation is not guaranteed; it’s icing on the cake).What would you guys do?

I can also “drive for dollars” in your area of interest.I can help with follow-up activities for your existing projects: make calls, do site visits to check on progress, etc.Honesty, integrity and discretion/confidentiality.

The IRS is very much in love with the safe harbor of 200-37. 

The agent and seller knew that offer #1 was never going to get the property, they just use their offer to drive up the price and give them false hope.

I think it is safe to wait for 6 months and do the refinance.

I think even the laziest Investor would at least send someone to drive by the property to see the if meth is involved in this endeavor, but believe it or not there are a few sources that will keep records of properties where a drug lab ever existed.

I've driven by a potential property that was a really good deal before I scheduled a showing, and could just tell by driving by that you couldn't pay me any amount of money to deal with the type of tenants that would be living there.

Pick you agent wisely, because the presentation of the listing and the skill of the agent can easily safe - or cost - you more than the entire commission.

What you don't want to do is hire yourself a traditional residential Realtor who is used to driving buyers around looking at homes for their family to live in.

Cash costs between the flight and drive washes out after expensing for motel stays and food.