I head at some point: People over estimate what we can accomplish in a month, 6 months or a year but we underestimate what we an accomplish over a 5 year period.I think one thing I had was pure drive.

Regardless of amazingly risky loans, fraud (later found out), or just pure costly mistakes, lax internal controls & theft, etc, not a single bank could lose in this market.

It’s purely about money.

Otherwise, if I was in no rush and was purely aiming for max CoCR, calibrating my offers to hit 1/10 chance of acceptance seems like a good target.

You didn't say what the scope of work is but, unless it's purely cosmetic, two months isn't so long to rehab a house.  

My uncle and many of his friends could have and should have retired years ago, but they stick around out of pure greed.

Save up the down for the next property and keep that 2.6% loan on what will be a pure investment property. 

That becomes more of a personal decision than purely financial.Also worth noting, what the city thinks your house is worth is meaningless.  

This is just out of pure curiosity.

Not the reason I'm buying this property (purely a cash-flow/value-add play....any appreciation would be gravy).