You should do all the same level of due diligence you otherwise would to buy the property. 

I spent months, no, years, reading books, buying No Money Down cassettes, (Carleton Sheets, anyone?)

Jimmy  - Thank you for the input, definitely buy and hold.

I gravitate towards "red states" given the landlord-friendly laws and relative ease of evictions, which unfortunately are unavoidable in the buy and hold game.

Take your flip profits in CA, and buy with those profits for CF in the Midwest. 

but you will have appreciation and equity paydown, but so would any property you buy with financing.  

So you can buy a four flat, live in one unit and rent the other three, but you have to live in one unit on the site. 

good area to buy. would love to discuss if you are looking for financing options

The agent will not be paying you/seller/buyer because the agent does not bring money to the seller/buyer in any fashion in a transaction (typical transactions), unless this agent is a partner to that person buying the property, or they are a principal to the property.Let me know if that makes sense. 

If you are buying from HUD, you will be contractually obligated to occupy the home for 12 months.