If you are running a flipping business you can take some expenses associated with the flip in 2015 called "current" expenses such as interest, property taxes, utilities, milage, ect.

There are plenty of great people at both investor associations that will share knowledge.  

National Association of Professional Women use this same tactic.

I've heard there are fees associated with having a real estate license (to the state, and a brokerage firm that I would have to become part of?)

I am also not following why a seller's note with be associated with another property.  

In speaking with an appraiser associate today he said anyone that appraises properties in Chicago, especially the north side, this is a common road they cross often where it is at the sole discretion of the appraiser based on what he feels the market views in that particular case is.

You should be associated with several.

Of course, I would really like the deal to work out, but knowing there's a little more risk associated with houses that have vinyl siding will certainly change my approach on this house and any future house that has similar set up.

When larger balance mortgages or deeds of trust foreclose it is not uncommon for the payoff to become much larger than the balance simply by nature of the math on a large number and the high costs that would be associated with a high value property.  

Passed along the deal to an associate investor with a phone call, made my $1000 "wholesale" fee and moved on to the next.