He claimed that if we would just spend $2k on the backyard he would "increase the value of the house between 35-40%".I got him a $100 gift card to Armstrong garden just to play nice.

Consider offering specials or other incentives to get more leads.

Nathan Meeker is an accountant here on BP who specializes in this.

My Dad was in lending for a while and knew someone who specialized in 203k. 

This property has both an incredible view and the structure was something special.

I started my career as an Architect specializing in exactly what you are looking for. 

Many rehabs look like the other guys "contractor specials" - no heart, no joy.So how do you find a designer who will commit to creating and selecting a scheme for an overall project?

Sunbelt States with a special shoutout/mention to New Mexico. 

Some areas have specific departments or webpages dedicated to housing or zoning regulations that can provide detailed information.Another effective approach is to connect with local real estate agents or property managers who specialize in short-term rentals.

Here's how I do my due diligence:1) Portfolio matching: (takes 30 seconds per deal)a) Have an educated opinion on where I think we are in the real estate cycles (financial and physical market cycles)b) Then and only then do I pick the strategies, capital stack, and specialized asset subclasses that make sense for that opinion.