It seems like I would be cutting it close to try to finish, list, and lease it starting March 1? 

That is a common arrangement as well, that can be done after the loan has closed, too. 

This was my first time buying a property solely for an investing purpose, and Melissa Justice was the person that I was connected with to help me pick out properties.

Here's the deal:Purchase Price (PP): $95kRenovation Budget (via HML): $60kTotal All-In Cost: $155kARV (After Repair Value): Around $200kRefinance (via DSCR Loan): 7% interest, 30-year fixedRefinance Details: After the refi, I will pay back the Hard Money Loan (HML) at 11.95% with 3 points:HML: $60,000Interest/fees: $3,585Other costs: $1,800Total to pay back HML: $65,385After the refi, I will have $84,615 left in cash.Cash Flow & Expenses:Expected Rent Income: $1,700/monthProperty Management (PM): $126/monthInsurance: $100/monthTaxes: $126/monthMortgage: $1,043.75/monthTotal Expenses: $1,395.75/monthSo my monthly cash flow is about:$1,700 - $1,395.75 = $304.25/month in cash flow.Return on Investment:Cash Invested After Refi: About $18,385 (after paying off HML and closing costs).Annual Cash Flow: $304.25 * 12 = $3,651Cash-on-Cash Return (CoC): $3,651 / $18,385 = 19.8%I didn’t account for maintenance costs since it’s a full gut rehab, and everything is brand new.

I’ll be there keeping a very close eyevduring the Reno because i figured as much…who should i steer clear of ?

That can be a tough part, but isn't close to half of the process.

We bought the property at below market rate because the seller was motivated and needed to close quickly.

If you're still looking for a CPA/Tax Strategist in California feel free connect.

Just do a little bit of research and connect with a great property manager.

The time to close might be harder I would look at heloc.