I don't really travel out there much, its the kind of suburban hell-sprawl that I dislike on a moral basis for reasons too complex to list here.   

Additionally, my schedule will need to be more flexible due to her travel and work schedule.  

I'm a full time engineer and so I would travel to Livonia from my work in Warren 3-5 days a week.  

We furnish both and rent all utilities included for 3-6 months to traveling nurses, new Denverites, business people, etc.

So maybe he already had travel plans but why wouldn't he just say so?

Can I deduct meal expenses incurred while traveling in-town (within 30 miles) to look at rental property? 

Do you actually travel to each city to do the flips or do you do some remotely? 

The current owner built these apartments in the 80s and no longer has the ability to maintain them and run the business and is looking to get out.This is my first real estate analysis, so I am looking for variables that I may have missed, or if my assumptions are false.Mortgage - $716 ($175k purchase price)Insurance - $515Property Taxes - $200 Vacancy - $226 (7%)Maintenance - $165 (5%)CapEx - $160 (5%)Gas/Electric - $176Water - $60Garbage - $130Income Taxes - $432 (this is using deductions for interest, depreciation, maintenance, travel, property taxes, and insurance) This leaves me with a positive cash flow of $457 using the current $400 rent price, so it would leave me some wiggle room for raising rent.

His plan was to get a conventional loan when the house was finished to pay it off and reap the rewards of traveling with all those miles.  

I recommend investing in places where you travel, e.g. work, daycare, church... that way you can maximize your tax advantages while visiting places you normally go.