A excellent honest landlord would want to have a check in list and have the tenant present and also on the checkout so everyone is on the same page, and it is best to show the tenant the check in list and go over everything and have it in hand on check out this way the tenant cannot say the landlord over charge on anything, and an excellent landlord doesn't need 30 days to see if there is any damage and most landlords like to hold the deposit, as long as they can because they could be running their business on a shoe string and need the extra money.Joe Gore

This can work, but I'm never all that comfortable with it, unless I (and the client) are willing to accept the lower initial price, if there are not multiple offers.Good luck!

If you are comfortable with the returns you are seeing with FHA then use it if not put down your 20%

I decided that I want to start actively pursuing this interest in the hopes that I can soon retire from retail and in 15-20 years from now I will have enough investment properties to sustain a comfortable lifestyle that I can enjoy.

There will be sooooooooo many different scenarios when you start talking to sellers, it will force you to grow, and it will make you become sharp and get you comfortable with talking to sellers.

Well it depends on how you sold it to them...I would do a vendor vendee transfer meaning your buyer would slip into your shoes and assume the original contract assuming you receive compensation for it...You can hold a note for what you want to sell the property above what you paid Does that cause any problems?

I would run side by side comparisons of your purchase scenarios (cash buy vs 15 year vs 30 year) so you can see which set of numbers you're more comfortable with.

And, do you think stepping into the shoes of a lender will put you into ownership of the collateral to sell it at a profit or lease it out?

If so we would defiantly feel comfortable moving on the deal before the auction date.

I'm trying to learn about house flipping as rapidly as possible, as I do not feel I have adequate knowledge right now in house flipping to be comfortable carrying out this type of project.