Then there is the chips, nicks, scratches, burns and so on, on the counters/floors/walls/sinks/tubs etc.I'm doing my best to talk you out of it!

On that particular show Chip is both a Realtor and a GC.As far as a cash buyer - perhaps a contract with a hefty earnest money and a very long inspection clause date which protects them by allowing them to back out along the way if they don't like how it is going.

These are your power years to stack chips.  

I want to chip away at it one unit at a time.

As far as financing, I do have a pool of friends willing to chip in along with my own. 

Looking at the amount of debt to income, I do think you'd need to chip away at the debt a bit, or pare down some of the other expenses.  

I am revisiting my FSBO and we're chipping away... 

Make an offer based on what you actually know about your market and let the chips fall.

You plan on chipping in a few extra $$$ to get a good one.

That being said you have credit or a better bargaining chip on your next purchase with holding this unit.