Thank you all for the great reading and research material- I never would have found this home or a lender willing to work with me and my bad credit without it!

I checked the online forms here and the materials seems more relevant to US rentals. 

. $7 a sq ft installed but it doesn't list material price.

My question is: if we redeem our personal credit card points for Lowe’s / home dept gift cards to go towards supplies/materials/cabinets etc, can we deduct that as an expense even though we used a gift card vs a credit card or cash?

They are blaming the workers or the delivery guys who delivered the construction materials. 

If you intend on using FHA again, you of course have the issue of proving that the you either had a material life change warranting a larger property (had children) or you are moving far away for work. 

It is mostly materials and I won't need to use a GC as the electric and plumbing are all basically new.

@kristen sure pls pm me for contact Info to forward materials

I will be partnering with a contractor so he would be responsible for the materials/labor and I'd be responsible for purchasing the property. 

I've learned a lot that way.If you're looking for a local meetup and podcast, look @James Orr 's Nomad material.