A deposit at the start of a build is normal, this usually pays for materials and labor to get started.

ACM (Asbestos Containing Material) abatement is a tough one because often you won't know (outside pipe insulation & 8x8 tiles which I can spot and point out with no testing).

You have to know your state landlord-tenant laws; they are on the internet:"In New Jersey, a landlord may need to give a 30-day notice to pay rent before eviction if the tenant has a history of late payments and the landlord accepts them.

If you're still interested, take a trip to the site once ground has been broken.The flashy marketing material for a new development is great, but don't put your money at risk for something that's likely to vaporize.

It covers internet, water, trash, cable, and exterior (roof, siding, etc.).

I want to share with others that I called the Attorney for D32 today and she stated that the storms knocked out the internet and the offices but it was not a reason for any delay on the return of deposits. 

(Like I think Craigslist is still one of the best websites on the internet, but for some people it's a total turn-off because it still looks like 1995).Capterra.com is a great site for research in this category (and business software in general). 

This was being done by amateurs without mentors, BP, a decent Internet forum, anyone to ask for advice, or heck, without knowing anyone that owned more than one house.

If you aren't an excel expert I wouldn't bother trying to make your own or scour the internet for an analyzer tool that may or may not meet your needs. 

My humble advice to anyone attempting to do creative finance is:Creative finance is for experienced investors who have access to capital if anything goes wrong.Learn the lawsDon't use a contract "off the internet", laws vary by state and are also regulated on a federal levelLearn the financing techniques correctlyDon’t skip parts of the processDon’t ever do a “kitchen table” closingUse the proper deedAn attorney can help you with the legal work, but the rest you are on your ownYour guru will not bail you out“Investing” in someone else’s deal by providing a small 2nd loan so the “investor” can pay for “cash to the seller” and for “closing costs” so he can do the deal is a very bad planKnow what problems can ariseLearn the responses and solutions to problems before they are neededKnow everything there is to know about Title and what that meansKnow who a "protected class" individual isLearn the "back doors"Learn human natureUnderstand timelinesUnderstand regulation enforcement (some of these "mistakes" have a 10 year statue of limitations ( they can charge you 10 years AFTER you do the transaction) and carry hefty fines and possible imprisonmentThe court doesn't accept "I didn't know" for an answer"Know that the source of the lead plays a serious role in some states and federallyKnow how much of a "profit" pushes the boundaries to invite an investigationYou can be sued by the seller if you don’t do things correctlyYou are automatically at fault if an investigator or attorney or regulator gets involved.