The reality is that you have to bring something to the table (skin in the game).

When we do our taxes we break our the big table and categorize receipts (which usually have notes written on each one). 

when they think they have left money on the table and some lawyer gets a hold of them.

I’m not blind to the fact that he’s got a huge mountain to scale.  

On whether or not you will qualify, you might just talk to a lender and lay everything on the table before getting a hard inquiry on your credit, then you will decide if you want to move forward. 

@Jason DiClemente I think that's a pretty reasonable time table.

You bringing any skills/outlets to the table with you?

KDP Septic based in Phillipsburg is excellent, they put in a complicated 50K system for us in East Amwell Township in the dead of winter this year (high water table on property so needed pump up leech field system, ground was frozen, they have all the heavy equipment needed for something like this).

Especially if it hasn't yet hit the water table.

So the property is a duplex built in 1997 (great condition) in Colorado Springs, total sq ft 2,804 with both units being 2bd/2bath w/ 2 car garage and great views of the mountain and Pikes Peak.