Then he heard one of the sales girls yelling to the other "go into the kitchen and ask Fred or Tom when the cookies be ready, it's taking forever".

Cookie-cutter homes without basements, a feature that not only cut costs but could be built faster.

I'm not familiar with your chosen area to invest in, but with that kind of seed money, there are a number of areas I am familiar with where you should be able to get where you want to get within a 5 year window.Just don't spend any of that money...use it to infinity, but NEVER spend your seed money.Agreed about not dipping in the cookie jar. 

Other than that, the occasional gift such as a bottle of wine or cookies to thank them for being a great tenant is always appreciated.

If it's a cookie-cutter home then what I previously stated applies. 

Even though I know how to do it myself, would find an attorney that can "cookie cutter" mortgage closings for a reasonable fee.Had someone try to sue us once over a private mortgage and only saving grace was an attorney prepared it, so it was all legit.

The increase has taken more than a couple months but that's just how the cookie crumbles.

Hate oatmeal to this day unless it's in a cookie. 

Also don’t expect that kind of equity buying a builders cookie cutter cabin that they lost on the MLS.

A direct lender has a 'do not compete' cause with their bank that is also their employer, they can't go doing that, they have to send their business to the place they work for, and if they're at 9% trying to taper to 7%, tough cookies for both the loan officer and the consumer/investor.