They worked with the city, and the city issued the permit to operate it as a duplex. 

If I am interpreting your numbers correctly Year 1 Net Operating Income is 5,000.

The network and broker you are with can certainly help boost your success, but in my opinion nothing replaces putting in the time and being creative with how you operate your business to show how you, as an agent, are unique to your clients (Investors, people planning to buy for their primary residence, etc.)I also have an REI mentor who has helped with my process a lot if you would like a recommendation.

I honestly dont plan on it generating a profit with the entity.

It was about how a major operational restructuring would effect the forward operation and our discomfort with the risks.

I’ve heard about various methods like “Ghosting” and staking out auctions, but I’m wondering if there is some program I can purchase or company I can hire to generate these buyers list for me?

@Jessica Geisler, yes what you're talking about is becoming a Lead Generation provider. 

Even experienced syndicators look to loan guarantors to ensure that their operations are running smoothly. 

From an operations stand point, make sure the quote from the contractor includes — full containment and HEPA filtered negative air movers that ideally can exhaust to the exterior, manometer with print out logs documenting the containment’s negative pressure throughout the mitigation, full removal of affected materials (drywall, baseboard), (wood framing can sometimes be sanded and then sprayed with a spor/fungicide), and finally an *inspection by a third party environmental hygienist for air clearance*.

The reno started in December and I am putting it on the market in a few days.Knowing I didn't put it on the market to claim "operating expenses", since some work started in December - is that amount of contractor payments and purchases out for claiming in 2017?