Banks must approve a short sale for a short sale to take place, and banks hire appraisers and other real estate agents to perform broker price opinions (BPOs), or estimated values of the home.The goal would be to negotiate with the seller before the home becomes a short sale. 

After inspections and appraisal come back satisfactory make a new listing for the property. 2.

Do you know if any of these show what the properties would be appraised at (by the bank)?  

Why would you spend the money on an appraisal now?

Really your advantage is using your legal prowess to better appraise future deals. 

That for them to consider it, they would want to order three appraisals, and then the loans would all have to be cross collateralized over the three properties, and it seemed over the top and costly way to borrow $75K.

For a conventional loan, you can borrow UP to what you paid for the property plus closing costs OR 75% of the appraised value which ever is less.  

This fee covers all other services from us including underwriting, appraisal, legal, wire transfers, etc.

I usually run several CMAs, with different criterial, and of course compare tax appraisal value with a wholesale price, add 5% as a fee to a transaction, in some cases.

Due to increased rates i did not refi so i did not get opportunity to see how an appraiser valued the half bathroom but the comps with same bathroom count had crazy valuation for the additional half bathroom.Taking under utilized space like a work area to add a br where the added br does not put you above the normal for the area can add value.Similar if a neighborhood is virtually all 3 br and 4 br properties and you find a 2 BR, it could be a value add to add the bedroom via new construction.