I put 20% down through my local bank on the first mortgage.

Inspection Costs - $400 Lender Fees - $1,000 Closing Costs - $2,000 Mortgage Payments - $2,500 Property Taxes - $600 Utilities - $1,000 Insurance - $200 Commissions - $4,000 Selling Closing Costs - $4,000 Home Warranty - $500 Termite Letter - $100 MLS Fees - $100 

Deduct NEW property taxes after you buyDeduct home insurance costsDeduct maintenance percentage, typically 10%Deduct vacancy+tenant nonperformance percentage(we recommend 5% for Class A, 10% Class B, 20% Class C, good luck with Class D)Deduct whatever dollar/percentage of cashflow you wantNow, what you have left over is the amount for debt service.Enter it into a mortgage calculator, with current interest rate for an investment property, to determine your maximum mortgage amount.Divide the mortgage amount by either 75% or 80%, depending on the required down payment percentage - this is your tentative price to offer.If the property needs repairs, you'll want to deduct 110%-120% of the estimated repairs from this amount.Be sure to also research the ARV and make sure it's 10-20% higher than your tentative purchase price.As long as the ARV checks out, this is the purchase price to offer.It is probably significantly below the asking price.

This significantly lowers the cost per door and improves your return on investment.Scalability: A three-story walk-up design allows you to maximize your build cost and land use, just like most professional apartment developers do.Control with New Construction: Starting with a new build ensures fewer risks, as you’ll have control over the property’s condition and avoid surprises from existing structures.Pro Tip: If you do go with an existing property, make sure to thoroughly vet the deal to avoid hidden costs and issues.For first-time investors, multifamily new construction is often the best way to scale quickly, reduce costs per unit, and build a sustainable rental portfolio.

@Rod Merriweather The small bank’s offer of a 6.875% cash-out refinance at 60% LTV is reasonable, as it consolidates your HELOC and mortgage while providing capital to reinvest.

If one wall is particularly bad, they can always try to match the existing paint and just paint that one wall. 

A good agent can help reduce your risk, and that may be worth the 3%.I do agree with Andrew, if your agent hasn't helped you find the deal, nor has he/she provided representation/consultation throughout this deal, you shouldn't feel obligated to provide a commission to them (pending what it says in your existing agreement, of course).

Housing shortage exists, so demand for good housing still moves fast.   

I then was offered a position at a local growing investment mortgage bank.

30% down 30yr mortgage How did you add value to the deal?