If you buy a fixer upper/good deal you could also flip the property if done properly. 

The buckled wood definitely can’t go down at all, even when I put myfull body weight on it.

You don't really have to pay the second guy full price as long as you do the walk-through with him, no report or insurance necessary.But home inspectors are generalists and too many of them come from the upper-end mechanical trades like electrical and plumbing instead of renovation carpentry, which is really what you need here.For your second inspection, look for old-home renovation people in your area, the guys working on historic houses, and ask for their guy to do a walk through with you.

As some of the others have mentioned, I would recommend Skypeing with them as body language can tell you a lot about a person.

Similar style as well and similar condition ie if I'm comping a house for a flip I'm looking at other houses that have been renovated in order to get ARV, I'm not using fixer upper comps to determine what the ARV is.If you're in a lower inventory area where you can't find at least a few comps that meet this criteria then you can go 9 months to 12 months back.

I tend to buy fixer uppers to get that instant sweat increase in value as well.Its low risk and weathers the times and markets falls. 

If you purchase a duplex you can live in one side and rent the other until you're ready to purchase your next property and repeat or buy a SFR fixer-upper, spend two years slowly fixing it up and then rent it out when ready to purchase your third property and so on!

I think the upper westside, Pittsburg neighborhood and Tech area are interesting areas for Airbnb, too.

Anybody know any body ? 

Anybody know any body ?