Charge a lower option fee and calculate your monthly costs into the purchase price plus a premium.Otherwise you have invested in this property to break even, as there is not much difference between what you owe in conjuction with what you loose each month relative to the incurrance of equity.Sale Price - (You loose x per month plus x amount owed) + Profit Premium = Was it worth it?

So don't loose sleep about loosing money on the property.Take maximum advantage of the home owners warranty as it applies to all the mechanical systems & appliances.  

Another downside is you loose on the advantages, of the Federal Tax Code, by not closing in the name of a LLC.

Market here has been crazy, but I'm trying to stay optimistic and keep at it that I'll be able to shake some things loose in the near term.Can't wait to get started searching through the biggerpockets site and soaking up all great advice!

If it doesn't, not only will I loose an buyer but also a management opportunity.  

all mortgage lending on the conventional  side these days is HIGHLY regulated.and any RMLO committing Fraud or ( CREATIVE WORK around would have to have a screw loose)...You must work with in the rules this is creative owner financing  this is the federal Gov

I'm in the process tonight of going through some escrow papers a quickly signed and it looks like I will loose money on a deal for the first time in years.  

The helps me figure out what you the flipper can get for it or ARV.2) I need to understand what you are going to do to the house and how long it is going to take so I understand your (the flipper) holding costs (the soft stuff)3) I need to build in plenty of margin so when I get it wrong, I don't loose my shirt.  

Good post, I agree with you, i do believe a correction is coming, but with investors now having to put more skin in the game and not being able to drive up prices like they did years ago with no money down products and loose lending requirements, i dont think it will happen this year maybe 2 or 3 years down the road and that also depends on what region you are talking about, we didnt really feel the crash out here and we didnt experience the double digit appreciation either , i wasnt thinking of selling when i refinanced, a few months after i did it, my tenant moved out so that got me to thinking about changing my goals, i was in a 6.15 30year loan still paying pmi, so the fixed 15yr @ 4.375 was a better deal for me, and yes counting on appreciation is not good because its not guaranteed, i may end up keeping it because I like the idea of having it paid for in 15 years.  

There are experts who will help you with this.Then make absolutely sure, that your lenders to not loose money... because losing a friend is worse than losing money.Good luck.