That being said, if you want to do the test campaign of 100 letters/postcards (which is a good way to get your feet wet) and if you're expecting to see ANY kind of tangible, meaningful response from it, the quality of the copy and especially the quality of your list (along with how well you've filtered through the data) can and will have a major impact on your response rate.Yes - you can send out a direct mail campaign "just for kicks", but if you aren't taking the right specific actions along the way, you're going to be disappointed in your response rate, which will only deter you from taking further action (because you'll have the wrong idea from the beginning about the effectiveness of direct mail as a marketing tool). 

Also, you should verify whether the rate is impacted... generally the more down payment, the lower the rate.

Assignment and Subletting, prohibited uses for property, remedies for default, Tenant requirement to have adequate insurance,  Utility Bills, Tenant Interior maintenance responsibility, pest control, damage by vandals, Signs, Improvements become landlord's property at lease end, damage and destruction, Tenant Public Liability Insurance, Environmental, and any addendum's.As you just read, these leases are more complex and require professional representation as if you are trying to save $1000.00 by representing yourself and the lease has loopholes than you are opening yourself up for losses that can far exceed your initial savings.  

Generally the Condo Managers are learnt o give out the info other than for the CQ due the fact how they answer may impact loan approvals for the condo.Initially, if you are buying the condo as an investor (not owner occupied) your loan process will be more stringent and your lender with get the CQ to get the Condo Budget, the HOA delinquency rate (no more than 15% late), Master Insurance, Fidelity Insurance,  percent of units owned by investors, and percent of owners that own more that 1 unit.Determining the ARV in DC shouldn't be too hard because the sales are plentiful at all phases.Once you rehab or you are done with your holding period, you want your unit marketable to all buyers so you want to make sure your Condo is on the FHA & VA approved lists of Condos.  

I am 20 years old, finishing up my sophomore year of college at the University of Michigan studying Economics and Environmental Studies.

The reason that the house was shown "open-house" style is, ostensibly, to minimize the impact to the existing tenants. 

Will my sale price be impacted by these hallways and rugs?

It actually seems like an especially good strategy in the DC area since rents/mortgages are far higher than most of the country (and thus eliminating our housing costs would be an outsized impact on the budget compared to elsewhere).

SJ, Bay area will be negatively impacted if nasdaq corrects significantly and China heads into recession.

Something you might have to consider as it will have a big impact on your cash flow.