I've always been interested in buy and hold, but I think this deal makes more sense as a fix (very minor fixes, all cosmetic) and flip.

I focus primarily on traditional residential properties with a buy and hold strategy. 

We aren't looking for any buy and hold or rent options right now, we are more wanting to get into fix and flips as well as assignments (wholesaling).

I'm mostly interested in buy and hold investing for both single-family and multi-family units as well as learning more about creative investing and wholesaling. 

I presume that you have a signed lease with defined ending dates, so it seems that you could indeed hold onto the security deposit past the normal 21 days as the lease still has several months to go.

I have done a few SFR deals and am mainly focused on long term buy and hold right now, but interested in getting in to small multifamily and evaluating other real estate strategies.

Our strategies are a mix of buy and holds and fix and flips.  

Verbal contracts don't hold up well in court.

I called the Realtor up who was trying to get a hold of the listing agent, but he was not able to reach them. 

My vision is to slowly build a large portfolio, mostly using a buy and hold strategy, to create passive income for myself and future family.