As far as condition of the home I also think it makes total sense to negotiate down based on what the expected repairs might be.

They're having the same mental health crisis that's hitting the Zoomers, but rather than culturally induced madness, it's the complete lack of anything resembling a reasonable opportunity that's causing a lot of Chinese youth to basically drop out of the rat race.

Given current market conditions and shifting regulations and court decisions you may be better off month to month VS term lease. 

Locking purchase contracts with assignment clauses and then publicly marketing to others expecting a fee for brining buyer and seller together is brokering without a license and in many states, punishable by fines and even jail in some cases.Working in your own backyard where you know the market and know the conditions will give you an edge.

I'm going to digital entry (four students, they lose keys a LOT) and smart home features (like turning off the HVAC when doors and windows are open because students are apparently idiots and do, in fact, air condition the whole darn neighborhood), plus a few exterior cameras. 

My goal is to test this out under a sublet condition rather than to buy a property and attempt something like this without having gone through the trenches so to speak.

Explain what it takes to get their offers won in these market conditions and then see if you’re on the same page. 

My business partner and I have been in sales for 15+ years so we scoured social (online) and real businesses and pitched them for 1-2 years (2017-2018)Once we got 1-2 major contracts (minor league hockey team & health care company), word of mouth and reputation did most of the work. 

This is because you don't really own the property, you just have a contract to own it once certain conditions are met. 

Being first is not always a good thing when it comes to those guys...Lots to think about for sure... however with a well thought out plan and some very favorable conditions on the purchase, you could make something work if you don't overpay for the dirt.