But I had to get my foot in the door again somewhere.  

We are looking at purchasing a 1200 sq foot ranch, 3/1, basic rectangle.  

Where new comers run into problems, they want to use the well-known title companies, and they start out with all the guru talk, and they never get their foot in the door.

This way you know you're at least starting off on the right foot.  

I had been feeling like my plan was somehow wrong or that I might be starting off on the wrong foot because those rules just don't compute.  

You cant put that $29 a square foot Home Depot granite countertops in a kitchen here.

Agreed with Jon...I would never trust an architect (or anyone other than the actual contractors you'll use) with cost projections, for lots of reasons:-  He doesn't know the contractors you will use-  He doesn't know if you'll be be GCing it yourself or hiring a builder-  He doesn't know the finishes you'll be using-  He doesn't know your ability to negotiate prices-  He doesn't know your level of experience and ability to make cost-effective decisionFor our most recent project, I had architects projecting $125-150 per square foot for construction. 

Once we got our foot in the door we bought two pure investment and have gone from there. 

I know some folks wouldn't touch an old place like this with a ten foot pole, but so far it seems to be working out pretty well.

Like I said, I'm a poor college student but am very ambitious in learning the real estate business and I'd really like to get my foot in the door.