Inspections may cost more upfront, but they can save you from significant headaches and unexpected expenses down the road.Negotiate Hard: Use inspection findings as leverage.If the HVAC is near the end of its life, negotiate a credit for its replacement.If the cast iron plumbing is deteriorating and needs replacement, ask for a credit as well.Sellers often prefer negotiating credits over doing the work themselves.To give you an example: I was once under contract for an old house priced at $170,000.

This way you can decide if you’d prefer to lease the land or grant permanent easement.

For design, it really depends on your preference? 

Mold needs warmth & humidity, and preferably darkness.

I also don't love the search bar on Rabbu, and prefer using specific comps.

It's also worth mentioning that I already have a good relationship with a wholesaler in town who knows other good contacts, and I am able to use some of these contacts as good resources for general knowledge and learning how it all works.I recently had to close my business of 9 years, and so instead of getting a W2 job or start some other "normal" business, I'd much rather prefer to have house flipping be my primary source of income. 

I also lived in NV and TX for some time, and would prefer that climate, but need to make sure the financials make sense there. 

Yes, preferably in mountains.

•Are there specific trends or tenant preferences in El Cajon that I should consider?

Some agents even specialize in foreclosure properties.In some cases, banks may prefer to facilitate short sales if they believe it will result in a higher selling price than foreclosure.