What I do not control is the natural level of rents in any given market at any given time. 

@Adam M.The cost for a real estate tax accountant will vary based on location, experience, education and other factors, just like any other professional.

A potential challenge with a HELOCs is they are based on the current appraised value of your home, not the improved value, so you would need to make sure you have enough accessible equity.

Some lenders work with 220+ lenders and can really understand which lenders are best for you based on your situation. 

Determine your maximum allowable offer (MAO) based on your investment criteria.

Some banks and lenders will calculate your Heloc payment based on the Max limit even if you only have a small portion used due to preventive risk. 

I’m based in Houston, TX, but I know how critical it is to find someone on the ground who’s a true investor ally, not just another agent.

Now IF you have all those bases covered, my tips are: Take GREAT pictures and for the love of all that is holly please no close ups, wide angel pics.

I’m a broker based in Charlotte, NC, and I work with Compass to support investors in maximizing their growth strategies.

Sellers rarely mind the low deposit and extended closing period due to the nature of the property, or at least they can be made aware of the fact that their lot has issues that will take MY time and MY money to solve and then they come around.My terms on the flip are: Minimum 10K spread between purchase and flip value.  1-2K deposit upfront to hold the property for 7 days then the deposit becomes non-refundable after the 7th day and the buyer has the same amount of time that I originally negotiated with seller typically 8-12 months(its a purchase contract but because of contingencies its essentially an option).