Add into the equation the cost of materials and it makes sense that builders are finding ways to cut overall build costs and one of those ways is to buy land cheaper. 

Time and time again when I tried to cut costs by having a 'handy man' do a contractors job to save an owner money it bites me!

House hacking helps with costs and uses current savings while waiting to save more cuts debt.

In this way I believe I cut the economic interest of the PM to continue create/find creative problems in order to rise their repair %. 

There's not enough spread between your mortgage and the LTR rates to leave much of anything after they take their cut.

I've been searching for a while here on BP but have not found a thread related to my situation:I've been renovating and renting a property for just over 2 years and may be in a position to sell/close in the next 30-60 days.I am trying to cut-off major projects at this time to make a clean break, however we have committed to replacing windows in one of the units (windows are already ordered), with total project lead-time of 45-60 days (windows have been hard to get for the past year).In the event we have a closing date PRIOR to window installation, how should we handle paying the contractor?

Keep the deposit and cut your losses and keep peace of mind.

That lines up with some properties I've been watching in the $400k range that had to cut $40k or more off list to get under contract. 

If problems are found it creates dought that its totally renovated and they start to wonder if you cut corners.

It isn't exciting but it is very neutral, and cuts in easy for repaints.