I bought my first property with an FHA loan, and the real estate agent I hired offered to contribute some commissions to closing costs, which meant I was somewhere around $9k out of pocket to buy that first house.That was almost my entire life savings at the time, but the home was recently remodeled and this was in 2011 so home prices were very deflated.

I recently bought a new property that requires a bathroom remodel and the old carpet needs to be replaced with vinyl flooring.

I don't like the expensive house because the remodel is done. 

Side note if anyone is hiring for any weekend jobs, preferable remodeling as I’d like to learn the ins and outs of the business, I’d love to work, can also do evenings.

You could even do a simply kitchen or bath remodel like new cabinets and counter tops.   

When you work in partnership with the city you can see if they have economic grants, TIFs, etc. to help offset the remodel costs to both the commercial space and the residential.

The properties I buy are usually older houses that I completely remodel.

When I purchase a new rental, I always change out the valves for the toilets and faucets with upgraded valves that are less likely to fail.

Although we were not able to get 3.5% as a down payment, we were able to get a 10% loan requirement as well as financing for the property remodel rolled into the same loan.

Could be the start of a beautiful partnership - you could become their 'go to' remodeler when other folks leave...