My reasons for choosing real estate as a stepping stone (permanent one) is simple.

If they stay there permanently they just clean them out.There was a show years ago "undercover boss" that had an hour on that business you might find helpful but I can't remember the episode so you will have to search.I know for retail strip centers we used to worry about dry cleaners contaminating the building and ground.

Yes, PCS is military for Permanent Change of Station, which just means that we are being moved to another station/location/assignment.

If you make an offer on a property and it gets accepted, and for some reason, you can't find a cash buyer, you will lose your earnest money, and you may get blacklisted temporarily or permanently from making offers through whatever company you had to bail on.

I'm looking to purchase a rental property in Avon NC that I will eventually turn into a permanent residence.

This is what we are looking at, but the programs I am finding that roll into a permanent loan seem to have short (6 months) time frames and that is very tight to get through subdivision approval.

(actually trying to make it our permanent home...hard to drag a Union guy away...) 

One unit (that they occupy ) is permanently rented -no need to pay a property manager .Everyone is happy .

Seller understands that buyer may deed the house back to sell at some later point and based on mutual understanding amongst buyer and seller.Seller understands that this could be a permanent solution to the property problem and disposition or this could end up being a short term solution based on worst-case scenario outcome, i.e. something catastrophic occurs that keeps the buyer from making payments.

The fat cash flow I have enjoyed for 12 years.