I will insure the property as a non-owner occupant. 

He is open to seller finance with 0% interest.

You must give proper notice before each showing, you must give the renters the opportunity to buy the house first, and the new owner will have to honor their lease if they intend to stay.

Agreed on spending money, I would be asking the owner to purchase all of the smart locks himself as an investment into the property. 

Focus on the big-ticket items and estimate costs.Financing: Whether it's private money, hard money loans, or a traditional lender, make sure your financing is lined up.

Knowledge is power:Thorough Inspections: Minimize surprises with detailed inspections and due diligence.Strong Screening: Careful tenant selection reduces vacancy and headaches.Diversification: Spread your investments across different locations and property types to mitigate risk.Financial Planning: Maintain a buffer and choose financing options that fit your long-term goals.

Owner occ developments there is no value associated to the income approach so these props generally speaking will appreciate a lot more as the neighborhoods are much more desirable. builders the last thing they want to do is sell to investors if they are creating owner occupied communities.. rentals degrade the neighborhood and they will be sabotaging their own values to allow a bunch of investors to buy and rent out in their communities.So when you buy new builds keep in mind if its a build to rent community they will NOT appreciate like owner occupied neighborhoods.. might be best to find something already 3 to 5 years old where the stigma of renters dies down.. that would be best to protect your investment.

How did you finance this deal?

I'm moving to San Diego next year from Denver, CO and am looking to make the right personal finance decision in the process. 

How did you finance this deal?