Either way, it wouldn't happen within a year, so I assume I'm not breaking any of the clear HUD rules on this one.My question is - if I end up taking my good old time and repair / remodel this place over the course of a year or more and I'm over there regularly to cut the grass, get the mail, work on it, etc.  

My wife and I wanted to do it to a) try to pay down student loans some, and b) save more money for a down payment and cash reserves than we would have been able to with a regular full time job.

Leslie Bandy I don’t believe it. the state doesn’t lend small things like that, one of my regular clients is the state, the way they’re structured is not capable of such a vehicle.

If there is any way to frame out the door to make it a regular height now is the time to do it, you won't regret it and I know it's a duplex so you'd have to probably match the entries.. but this size door is awful to order,, and a storm / screen door is just as costly.Stay informed with the local police safe officer and find out if other type incidents are happening in your area, the lighting, extra locks, new door are super but if someone wants in they will get in.With all the shiny new stuff empty boxes,, in trash of new TV's etc are calling card for burglars.. cut boxes down. 

This works to your advantage over a regular property manager who can just take the listing, post in mls and sit on it.Old Town is a great area for considering as it provides many "walk to" options. 

Still no contact from missing tenants. 7 days pass as I am in and out as my regular job permits to mitigate the damage done.

I’m still in the process of finishing a course on learning Ruby on Rails before I can call my self a regular.

Write your content as if you are explaining it to someone, like a regular conversation.  

In other words, I get a lot of my leads from online marketing which I do on a regular daily basis naturally.

@Trevor Ewen Dips happen fairly regularly, so you shouldn't have to wait too long.