I have a potential private lender, but I need to determine if this is a viable investment opportunity and explore the best financing options 

The yield of an asset is a reflection of the risk of the asset.

So the investors returns can never reach a risk adjusted equilibrium ROI.3.

I think it comes down to your goals and risk threshhold.

We saw immediate potential in this quick flip opportunity.

Sure you could do a money market or put it in an ETF or something, but this is one of the options where the balance "can't" go down or is extremely low risk while making a decent yield.

EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!

Denver has a lot of older properties with value-add potential—small upgrades like fresh paint, updated kitchens, or even just better landscaping can make a big difference in forcing appreciation.

I think you can definitely run into a potential guest using that against you in the near future and opening the door for liability. 

Our biggest climate risks in central Texas are typically wind and hail, so anything of concern regarding the roof could get an applicant declined including trees too close to the roof surface, roof over 10 years old, etc.