I agree they provide value, and may work for a very small fee, but as investors we're all looking for ways to stretch our dollars, not add costs to the equation.

I'm reading this as, it's important to find the balance between having as little invested in each property as possible - providing you with both the opportunity to realize the cash flow benefits AND fund additional properties - while not going crazy by stretching yourself and over leveraging.If there's anything else worth keeping in mind please let me know.

I am by no stretch of the imagination an expert, and I'm sure there's missing info here (what do your credit scores look like, what's your DTI look like and will it affect your ability to qualify for future financing, do you have additional credit to make use of, etc.) 

Stretching the truth will get you disregarded.b) Any other type of loan, talk with the lender and challenge with your comps and/or pay for another appraisal. 

This could make that $50K stretch further. 

The numbers are not spectacular by any stretch in terms of percentage, but I try to just keep things moving along rather than sit around hoping and praying some great deal comes along. 

It looks like southern Minneapolis (South of the 394 fwy in the west and south of the 94 fwy on the eastern side of Minneapolis and stretching into St Paul) are the areas to search for properties.

The MLS also has photos to indicate value of the comps, and usually has further detail about what financing type it qualified for and if Seller Concessions were part of the total purchase price.BTW, It is MY opinion (not a lawyer, not even close) that UNLESS they have additional debt, besides the home, bankruptcy is not an smart option (not by a long stretch).  

One way we stretch our existing budgets is to get attic exemptions. 

Not ideal by any stretch.