Once AL started re-opening from Covid19, we reduced the rent price to $1,850, with a first month $500 move in incentive discount.

Luckily with a background as a Loan Officer it was a pretty straight forward concept to grasp. 

I would consider buying at as much of a discount as you can, in a good location ( not on a busy street, not near any "yeah buts" as MeetKevin would say, stable neighborhood, fixed long term financing4) South of Blvd has always had higher desirability, but if you find a good value, there are many great neighborhoods north of the blvd.5) I'm not a CPA, generally you pay taxes when you sell & if it's a primary residence there are large exclusions ($250k each individual owner) 

They would discount any renovations on anything above and beyond what is on the property record.

I have straight cash and a line of credit.

It was relatively straight forward to be honest.

Buy - At a discount.

discount to wait for the house or even offer them enough to cover rent someplace else until the house is vacated.

We figure though that if the house is 50 plus years old  (some are nearly 100 years) and they are still standing straight, that they will still be standing when we are gone so no need to go looking for problems. 

There are discount brokerages out there you can work with that offer reduced commissions but you get what you pay for as they say; working with these brokerages will limit the number of properties you get access to because the traditional brokerages don’t like working with them.