I've engaged with him on twitter and talked to him via video.

I would search for contractors via google with good reviews and go from there 

You will either need to payoff the second via a HELOC or second mortgage or refinance the entire note (both 1st and second)

Hi BiggerPockets Community,I'm having trouble managing mortgage payments for my rental duplex property and could use some advice from those who have dealt with similar situations.Background:The mortgage for our rental duplex is in my and my wife's names.Our LLC holds the property deed via a quitclaim.We set up a business checking account for the LLC to receive rent payments and manage property expenses.The Problem:The bank requires that mortgage payments be made from an account in my and my wife's names, not from the LLC's business account.

I collect tobacco cards so I am familiar (my first few rentals were partially paid for VIA my sports card wholesaling business). 

Hello everyone!After a few years of sitting on the sideline with regard to investing in real estate, I think I'm finally ready to get this show on the road.  I've decided, starting off, that I'd like to try renting ap...

Not massive and we CAN do it via excel or custom fields in Rent Manager.

I am not sure how you plan to handle rent collections but if you think there may be times that a tenant will need to pay via some non online option then having a bank in the area of the property can be good.

I'm exploring alternative financing options and would greatly appreciate insights or experiences in similar scenarios.Key Points:Property Location: Cahokia HeightsPurchase Price: $17,000Rental Income: Approximately $1,500/month via Section 8Condition of Property: Updated plumbing, roof is in good shape, needs AC unit, paint, flooring and cabinets and counter topI'm considering reaching out to private lenders but would like to gather opinions on:Feasibility of securing a mortgage for a low-cost property.Attractiveness of this deal to private lenders.Any creative financing strategies that could be applicable here.Legal and tax implications I should be aware of.Potential risks and how to mitigate them effectively.Any advice, suggestions, or contacts in the private lending space would be immensely helpful.

It seems awful long for a rent check to clear (I'm assuming you're getting paid via check).