all awesome info...I relate to this as I am often out of country..I have bought through trusted eyes for a buy/hold, never a flip.....could you chime in on either..1.regarding an online auction purchase, and seemingly growing trend... they seem to all say "as is", no contingencies, no views, no diligence...how in goodness name can you confidently make an offer on an online auction w/ no walk through contingency?

But provided you trusted the association and the HOA fee's aren't more than home insurance, I think getting one to live in for a year with an FSA loan then renting in year 2 makes sense. 

I still trust people, but I also do what I need to do to protect myself. 

You need to be doing this type of analysis on each of your deals with this level of detail.

My regular contractor , whom I know and trust, has been overwhelmed and unable to do the work.

But people dont trust one another because the P&L's are unverified because its all cash and the taxes are sketchy.

How to best handle a tenant that does not trust banks or does not have a checking account to allow for auto deductions?

I noticed this post is a few years old so I am curious to hear where you guys are now and the level of growth you've achieved.

Once you start managing for other people and are charging fees you get into the world of operating accounts, and trust accounts which you need to be a licensed broker to have. 

It does not matter what level the person you spoke to imo.Let us know what you end up doing.