The whole project cost about $2000-$3,000.Since this project was simply replacing planter boxes and adding gravel to an already graveled area (I did change the layout)...

I'm asking simply to get a better understanding for how a newer investor such as yourself sees the market.As for the financing...

If we had simply accepted the initial report, we would have walked into a financial disaster.

And being BP which is small investor ( majority) dominated and slanted towards wholesaling houses or fix and flipping this is simply a different arena..

That someone is going to deliver to you, on a silver platter, a property purchase you can simply say "yeah, sure, I'll take that" where you do some paint, carpet, little cleaning and tidying and turn around and clear a $100k? 

We found this deal just simply on Redfin.

If you buy right now you get in on the ability to increase your equity faster and simply refinance in 12-24 months when rates drop.I have seen this cycle twice in my 19+ years in banking and we are getting ready to have much lower rates over the next 3-4 years.

But making a sub optimal financial decision or even worse a bad lifestyle decision to simply avoid paying taxes is completely self destructive. 

In the Bay Area, sales simply command a premium over rentals.

A conventional renovation loans will allow you to use preferred contractors, requirements are they must be simply licensed and insured.