Contractors, unless you have a working relationship with them, normally do not want you bouncing ideas off them.Understand what their hourly rate is, have a discussion with them that you are okay with paying them an hourly rate if they walk the property with you and provide you a scope of work along with an explanation of what you can/can't get away with in regards to improvements.ask them if you go with them, if they can credit you the amount that you paid.Once you develop a working relationship with a few contractors, you can bounce ideas off them and expect quality responses.I do not invest in New York.Best of luck. 

Can easily get fee worksheets and run credit/DU 3.

What documents do they require, what credit scores do they allow, how do they verify previous rental history, etc.?

Do you have a good credit score?  

It sounds like the Title Co. was not aware that the tenant prepaid rent and just prorated the current rent for the month of closing, so agree if they had no knowledge of it, would not have ever gone on the settlement statement as a credit to the buyer and they likely will not do anything post closing to help obtain those funds. 

Either way if you personally guaranteed the note, yes it will affect your personal credit no matter who the property is titled to.

Zillow has an easy application for them to fill out. it come back with a credit score and background info. 

I’ve read quite a few posts about foreign investor financing but most seem to deal with non-citizen investors without US credit or personal tax filings.

I would definitely check Dunn and Bradstreet for any open lines of credit, liens, judgements and the like. 

The rise in home equity over the years can be credited to two key factors:1.