I invest out of state, and believe I'd be best off if I paid for 100% of my travel on my business credit card.When you have utilities on for a flip, and the house is in a trust, do you put the utilities in your name or the trust's name?

You could go on title with the owner as Tenants in Common on the deed, or secure an option on the property for a percentage of the eventual sale, or use a Joint Venture contract.

No utilities for over 5 years.......we are very afraid.3rd time.....lets say I am now sleeping with my gun under my pillow.

I know this is a common question, I've searched BP/google/etc, listened to podcasts, webinars for the past 10 months and see the pro's/con's for either way but wanted to get advice based on my particular situation. 

Then you take over the property and utilize what ever exit strategy fits best to you. 

It is much easier to increase value grouped together through renovation, utility billing, rent increases, etc.

OPEX: Do you always utilities are paid by tenants for a property you are analyzing?

You may be able to buy it at $215K, but how much more are you going to have to dump into it (roof, HVAC's, plumbing/sewer, electrical, common areas, parking lot, retaining walls, etc.). 

Sure, you could argue that you'd be collecting rent from your tenants, but good luck finding a multi that has enough positive cash flow to cover the entire mortgage, taxes, insurance, vacancy, maintenance, capex and your living expenses, food, gas, utilities, etc.

Of course, there are a variety of ways to invest in real estate, either direct ownership of the property, holding mortgages secured by real property, etc.While certainly not as common as stock market investing, this is very commonly done and has been for decades.