Are there other installers besides the city that can do it for cheaper or are there any other alternatives?

I know that is what it takes but I am hoping for something alternative.

If you can go FHA with the repair escrow, FHA 203k, or have alternative financing it may still be a great deal. 

If you have any suggestions for alternatives to the big stores or if the big stores actually have the better prices and products, please let me know to help me narrow this down a little. 

@Tyler JamesIRA Services Trust Company offers self-directed IRAs for investing in alternative investments such as real-estate, notes, metals and tax liens, for example.

If I can't find better alternatives I can always swallow my concerns and live with it at least for the first 3-5 years.

Is there an alternative, less expensive way to go about this--maybe a website with RE contract templates and the like?

@Dustin Salmon if you do not want to have to buy another property within the timelines there is an alternative. 

So my expectation is that went a loan comes due, I'll have the funds to pay it off in full, and if I do not or would rather not - I shouldn't have any problems refinancing with the same or alternate lender.Plus, if the property has appriciation during those 10 years or is a 5-Unit (or more) multi-family that has been maintained and managed well (increasing rents), it should be worth far more than owe'd, further making it easy to refi.

A few takeaways for us:-we were able to rent back because we had an alternate short-term living situation lined up with my in-laws (free rent)-we had to limit the rent back to 60 days max because of our mortgage terms (required owner occupancy within 60 days)-we didn't use a long lease or anything.