Zillow pulls a background check and credit report as soon as they apply.

Lets say the idea of higher mortgage and more debt pulls you back from making a move.

With regard to renovations, I always suggest taking incremental steps to bigger renovations or partnering with someone who has already done a renovation at that level.I've been known to just go for the big rehabs for my personal investments here in Chicago , and during that process, it's always more stressful than it needs to be...As far as navigating the competition, I've found the best thing I can do is get EXTREMELY CLEAR  on what I am looking for; then I am confident pulling the trigger quicky. 

Firstly I apologize that I do not have any market insights data specifically, but Houston has been a rough market as valuations have pulled back.

Our short-term residential investment property loans are typically 60-80% LTV and all are personally guaranteed by the borrower(s) -- we pull credit, background and PFS on each guarantor, verify experience, verify liquidity, underwrite the property, neighborhood and zip code.

I wanted to see what these guys were up to, so I pulled up in front of a house where it was parked, on Arquilla Dr, got out and knocked on the door.

My last deal was an exact wrap at 3.5% granted I had to put $80k down to pull it off, but it’s a great way to keep the train on the tracks.  

For instance if this is a $10M portfolio that's levered with loans totaling $9.1M, there's no equity that can be pulled but if this is a $1M portfolio with $100K of debt, its a different story.

But having multiple banks working the deal I had one pull through for me.

Within 5-10 years you should have been able to pull out your entire investment tax free and earn an infinite return.