Inspecting a HUD could costs you $500 or more in addition to the cost of your inspector do to utility connection fees and re-winterizing fee 5. 

Ive put in a few offers but ended up walking due to a counter that only an owner occupant buyer might bite at (4-5% return).One of the real estate agents(and investor) that I use mentioned that she knows an investor (flipper) who was looking for work to get through the winter.

Our experience has been they struggle with the lift required for winter water temperatures in northern climates.On the other hand, they work find behind a solar thermal storage system which will pre-heat the water, leaving the electric on-demand to handle the final boost of water temperature en-route to a given unit.

I've got two deals I'm looking at right now, one in Lake Forest and another in San Juan.

I am also looking in an area that has a summer vacation rental, and longer term winter appeal too.

I hung 100 sheets of drywall in the cold of winter, after working 10 hours at my "real" job.

Long story short, we don't feel relocating now is really an option due to our careers, at the moment.Targeting Wake Forest or Northwest Raleigh (NEED to be close to big park!

Then they may surprise you with a lead paint assessment on outside window sashes that require a 30 day fix usually in the middle of winter.

For example, if someone starts a lease in January, are you negotiating an 18 month lease instead of 12 months, so that when it expires, it's the summer (and easier to re-lease than it would be in the winter)?

@Bill GulleyI checked with family up north, winter has been milder than normal.