Getting something under contract is as easy as give the seller all the money.

I've never spent money on inspections/environmental before having the property under contract.

Avantstay's services cost money because they provide value.

I will add that to your question of 10% or 20%, you need to ask yourself whether you need the cashflow or not. 10% down would leave some money with which to buy more properties.

When my business partner and I were still flipping we bought a couple through Auction.com and we always used a private money lender to fund those and our other flips. 

STRs are a great way to make money, that's for sure...but it does not come without risk.

  :)  Many Indians send money back home to repay people that bankrolled their studies in Canada. 

You've earned $132,000 more by splitting your money and leveraging it.

When something goes wrong (like HVAC) do they have the money to get up and going again or have you just lost your business and all your effort cohosting a property that isn't well maintained?

But is that worth the money?