Get Lien releases from sub/sub contractors also.Know who is on your jobsite at all times, the trades, the business names.In many places, Friday at 3 is knockoff time for Beer, make sure they are not having their tailgater parties at your jobsite.In many places work is allowed to start as soon as the sun creases over the horizon, (just after Dawn), other places have hours to construct specified.

First Franklin, Option one, Freidmont, Countrywide subprime, First Horizon subprime, bancopopular, Equibanc, Novastar, also try weird loans.com it might be helpful.

As a global investor who survived 3 currency crisis in Russia i can tell you - right now (with 3-5 year horizon) the dollar is the nicest house in the bad neighborhood.

I required 1st & last month's rent, reviewed previous rental history (no late payments), employment (horizon looks stable), and income (more than 3x monthly rent).

My strategy is a buy and hold with roughly a 10 yr time horizon.

@Ethan PankratzIf you have projects at different time horizons then the best way to compare them is using an annualized rate of return. 

Keep your 10-15 yr horizon in mind and plan backward from there.

The idea with a short-term portfolio is to think like someone who is retiring in a year or (you're not retiring, but you have the same time horizon to 'use' your money).

@Caleb Heimsothfunny you mention that. i have hit a pause button on rentals this year to pay mortages back with a seven year horizon. keeping fingers crossed...

In the Seattle area if your time horizon is longterm and you plan on living in the unit for a while, you can forgo the cashflow upfront.Consider rent can rise 7% to 10% every year, but your costs are mostly fixed, the equation will right size fairly quick.