They'll foreclose long before they'll accept a short-sale.Regarding sub-to, I would urge you not to attempt one without basic training and also excellent paperwork.

We keep reading, listening and attempting to uncover how to make the brrr method work but it just doesn't seem reasonable.

Just to be clear, I’d be attempting to house hack the extra bedrooms or units on any property I’m considering. 

Knowledge will become the most valueable asset you have and you can start right now.Is really not about being Multimillionaire at 25 but more about being billionaire at 50 with a happy family, healthy body and mindset, a well balance life and time to do what you want.   

Or should I be attempting to underbid on the market slightly to add a little more cream on top? 

Thanks Bjorn... roofer is licensed by the local governing body.

Change is hard and only the brave attempt it!

This does create a tax problem, and you have to deal with complex "vacation home" rules that @Ashish Acharya mentioned.You happened to quote a section of the IRS publication that attempts to clarify what exactly counts as those 5 or 60 days in my examples.

Now, the lender and builder are attempting to challenge the appraisal (apparently appraiser used wrong comps).

Thank you Whitney , very insightful. ill keep this in mind in using my HELOC and when I attempt to refi my properties..