The ones who bought cheaper properties trying to fix up had mixed results with one getting hustled by a contractor and definitely going into the red.

Moving the house only a short distance on the same lot should be MUCH cheaper than moving it somewhere more distant. 

It's cheaper on the front end but very expensive on the back end. 

Include the finish selections as well so they understand what is being installed (Carpet is cheaper than hardwood and if you install hardwood herringbone thats even more expensive).Then you have the general terms as part of the contract which are insurance requiremens, licensing, schedule, indemnifications, lien waivers, case of default. 

@Zach Lemaster I think that is a great point; we are getting a phenomenal education along the way, and it is a heck of a lot cheaper than college. 

Rehabbers (fix and flip) and landlords cant or do not want to pay the good contractors , they think they will get the same quality work from the cheaper guys , that doesnt happen very often .When I bid a job I know I will be either the highest or second highest bid .

That money is there for a different (long term) purpose... and if you are pulling it out to not return it you are going to pay a penalty, which isn't financially smart.Odds are you have a great rate on your current house if you bought it during cheaper times... so giving up a great interest rate doesn't make sense either on selling your house and renting.  

makes sense. so i actually did a 2-1 buydown FHA, i have a 800 credit score and locked in a 5.875% in today's market which is pretty damn good IMO... so the first year ill be at a 3.875% with about a $2350 monthly payment including prop tax/pmi/morg insurance/home owners insurance. lease is locked in for a year at $1400 a month which makes me only have to pocket roughly $1000. the way i see it, its cheaper than rent or mortgages in today's world!...

The area has appreciated very well over the past couple of years and we bought cheaper than we probably should have been able to, again through timing and where the builder was at on things- some of their other projects that were like ours in the same neighborhood were purchased a month later for $25,000 more than what we paid.

At a certain point it becomes a lot of work but you can outsource a lot of the work by hiring VAs which is way cheaper than a management co (definitely not as hands off though)