There was a blog awhile back on these types of businesses on the Internet.  

You are at the best REI networking portal on the internet.

You are at the best REI networking portal on the internet.

EDIT: I have no affiliation with this company.

Originally posted by @Bac Nguyen:Also, you need to have an entity (LLC, S-Corps) for tax write off. ...Wow, some misinformation in that paragraph that hasn't been pointed out by the numerous intervening posts - so be careful when taking advice from Internet posts ;)  Where are the accountant and CPA BP members when such non-sense gets posted?

Build that relationship and they may call you when he gets the listing but before it is actually added to the Internet.  

(Note: I am not affiliated with the company, just making a suggestion)

If you start taking action in the real world, physically getting out to networking events, actually crunching numbers as if you are buying an investment, then your will make progress.It take physical action, away from the internet, to make real things happen in the real world.I really hope that helps - sounds like your in a cycle of analysis and education.

I plan to live in one unit as I renovate.I have scoured the internet but have never found much information on what my options for financing are, and a couple phone calls I made to local banks did not do much good, as my goal of purchasing a property is very hypothetical because I will not be ready for another 6 months or so.  

Beware these are looked at as suspect due to all the bogus "POF letters" available off the internet.