However, you'll likely be able to put more money in your pocket if your reducing your living expenses in a HCOL area.

I'm not sure I would label this result "saving money" for your client, and I'm not sure I would brag about it.

Pricing higher than a bank ( if you can actually get a bank to lend you money in the first place)2.

He made a lot of money and the developer is the “hated” villain but my initial protege knew what the land was going to be used for.  

Quote from @Burke Atkerson: With over a decade of real estate investing experience and over 100 flips, I now provide private money & hard money loans.

You won’t make your money back.

Probably going to be a check.Smart contractors are starting to understand that convenience matters to customers and being able to take different methods of payment can help them collect their money.

@Jeanette Land why don't you canvas your network to find a money partner?

In the Bigger Pockets free book, "Real Estate Rewind", as one of the 11 co-authors I wrote about one such Tax Sale purchase and made money but not enough money to warrant the risk involved.

refinance our own home with some money down + purchase another flip?