Peter if you go new subdivision pay attention to the size and solvency of the builder.The small builders that do one off homes or small to mid size cluster subdivisions those are the ones that usually can be in big trouble if an economic shift happens.Look at new build permits coming online for the area and the price range you are looking at.The big builders tend to be more experienced and can still finish out  projects with down turn so you do not get left with a pipe farm development where some homes and some empty dirt parcels.Nothing is foolproof but this can help.

Is there anything I can do now aside from online education and saving money to set me up for my return home to Tucson AZ next May?

Online or in person attendance is fine.

While catching up with an online gaming buddy I haven't spoken to in 5 years, he mentioned this website and podcast. 

I officially started my ground search (not online, walking through the areas) for MF properties this past weekend and found so many buildings with "For Sale By Owner" that are nowhere to be found online.   

Guys, how many of you buy directly from the Courthouse, these days it is online, not on the steps . lolNobody can find good deals on Hubzi, Hudson, Xome etc. 

If you'd like to chat further let me know!

I'd focus more on the kitchen if either that or the bathroom.If you've never screened before, you can use a background and credit check platform through your local LL association or any number of online sites like cozy or smart move.A realtor/PM will most likely charge 1 month's rent to place. 

Feel free to reach out if you'd like to chat further! 

The Beginning of your statement sounds like bird dogging but i get what your saying.and overall these are some great advice and all these apply to all of those that have this same problem right now, i always believed that  trying to get loans searching online or asking around which isnt a bad thing to do but the likely chance of someone getting a loan to help them out with a credit score this low is unlikely as some of ya said, so there is only one way to do that and that is to work and pay the debts off, mainly the utility bills that need to get tended to especially if you wanna live in your own space again, or if its for the first time.We all had some unfortunate circumstances in life, Death in the family, force to get bills put in your name by someone so they didn't take the blame of not dealing with those bills themselves, and that's someone you don't wanna live with trying to push everything on you  and make it your responsibility, sad reality but at the end of the day it gonna be your responsibility anyways later on.