She is now the project manager for a multi-million dollar condo building that is going up on Lake Grapevine, called Lakeside Towers.

Again if they say no that is another red flag. 

I believe Universal Insurance does it - the one with the red elephant in the logo. 

Actually I think you hit a great test on what the sellers intentions are - setting up the occupancy terms to protect yourself and if seller balks - definitely a huge red flag.

Lack of maintenance was a bit of a pain toward the end, but it was also great to have dirt-cheap rent and lots of freedom (wanna paint the walls red?

That makes sense although given that I am new I couldn't be as hands off as you describe (yet it is good to keep in mind for down the line).Now, I would want to see multiple properties in multiple areas of town to get familiar with them, the costs for the area and possibly pay for a contractor's time so he/she can show me what to look out for and what the costs could be.This would be needed for at least some time before I would be comfortable enough to pull the trigger on something.I just red J.

.$2540 with 8% vacancy $2336.8 expected rent$2336.8-$1526 = $810.6 Current Cashflow I'm probably going to build a garage for $20k so I can live in one of the units, and rent the other space for $50 a month.The home is in Tower grove east, but barely.

Usually red flags stick out clearly on their profiles.

I just want to make sure that there aren't any red flags that I'm missing, and that I have a decent sense of the mechanics of the process.Also, I'd like to learn more in general so if anyone has recommendations for other investors, or professionals/attorneys who would be willing to talk for a reasonable fee, with experience in the following areas I'd very much like to connect:- DC foreclosure law, and the treatment of personal possessions remaining in a foreclosed home- DC landlord tenant law and the eviction process- Title searches and other due diligence measures (specific to DC) - Ideally I'd like to sit down with someone who does this for a living and walk through title search and other checks that one would do prior to buying a foreclosure.Thanks in advance and look forward to any thoughts or insights!

Requiring 50k in earnest money should send up a hundred red flags.