All of these choices will affect your monthly cash flow so need to be taken into account. 

SA has historically been steady though (as far as I understand), so I was surprised to see it on that list.

.$500,000 Value requires $150,000 + $22,000 Closing Cost so total of $172,000 Down + %5.4 APR 5 ARM + 24 months payments needs to be in the bank account which is approx $73,000At the end of the 5 years, the mortgage will be something around $322,000 so with the appreciation etc if we sell the house around $600,000 which - $172,000 - 322,000 = $106,000 NET max return.But if we go all cash , he can make Approx $225,000 ( total rental income + average appreciation)Or If we do All Renovation + All Cash deal =$550,000 investment in 5-year approx profit will be around $300,000If you'd have the All Cash Funds and if you would locate overseas so you don't have time but you also want to make profit , what would you do in this situation?

We put $11,000 into our business checking account to start up, and fund part of the rehab.

We currently live frugally, have no debt, have built up our savings account and now we need to put it to work for us.I have some accidental experience with rental properties that weren't purchase as investments.

Regarding foreclosures and short sales:One thing to take into account, for a VA loan, the house has to be in livable condition.

But even after accounting for that, very little of my time was spent boots on the ground.

You have to find lenders (and there are plenty of them in Arizona to choose from) that offer non-recourse loans where the solo 401k account is listed as the buyer (not you as an individual).

Today we are announcing that we have added thousands of dollars in savings to the Pro account!

Because I have a wealth account with them, I get a better rate than is advertised.