I presented him with some options on FB (i havent seen him in person yet) and he is interested in leasing the property with an option to buy..........hes looking for a ranch style, split level, raised; near his business so his commute is easier. and he wants it to be a "fixer up" I have an amazing listing agent who could help me......any advice on how I could make this a win-win??

There's no shortcut...you either have to know what new construction costs are for the desired property (based on location, style of house, finish level, type of contractors you'll be using, type of management you'll have in place, etc), or you have to have a builder/GC give you a bid.Could be $60/sf or could be $300/sf -- though most likely, it's somewhere in between...

We got estimates from the contractor on both styles and the metal roof was actually CHEAPER and is supposed to last longer.

Ensure that the finishes you use are neutral and as least as nice (potentially a tiny bit nicer) than what your competition uses.If you have any doubts about your design style, hire a professional to help you out...

I TOTALLY understand the transient life style.

Check out podcast 103, I talk all about our style and how we have been successful.In general, i highly recommend you also check out- the blogs, forums and listen to all the podcasts.

This is probably mostly a holdover from doing it for the last 20+ years that way and about half have probably never heard of Dodd-Frank except that it is something Rush bad mouths on the radio.So look around at the many different strategies and see which fits your style and pocketbook since MHs are pretty much a cash business at least around here even on land. 

Personalize your plan to your learning style and adapt to your learning habits. 

Listening to Brandon and Josh evolve their host styles is entertaining as well as informative.I currently own one SFH rental in Virginia Beach that was a primary home when purchased.

Many of us including myself talk about our strategies, styles, niches and business model on our website.