That said, no one can say for sure if and when that might happen.Thoughts on if it's better to put a larger downpayment now to at least breakeven vs. taking a short-term loss on cash flow and take a gamble on being able to refinance sooner rather than later?

I always find it exciting to see that spark being ignited (or re-ignited)!

Here’s a better idea: reframe the question.Short term investments are more of a gamble.

Now is not the time to gamble though.

Some folks do without that, and only pay the price when things go sour.I am not a proponent of gambling, so I don't recommend cutting that corner.My $0.02 ...

I suspect the selling of the 3k information package is a pretty heavy revenue generator for them and very clever indeed... you take undercapitalized folks that want to get going and they will risk it.. just like folks that put the big guru packages of 20 to 40k on their credit cards with the hopes and dreams that there is some magic training that will create income so they don't have to work anymore ( at least W 2 work)… So I was just asking that other lady if she actually funded.. or if she put up the 3k and lost it.. one of the toughest things to do in the industry and its kind of like how gambling casinos are set up.1. take a rookie and that's who is going to be attracted to this scheme of no money down ( which of course it is not)2. set the bar so high that most rookies simply cant find a deal that actually works in todays competitive environmentand there you have it you have 3k in your pocket to do turn downs and to send out materials that are long ago paid for and there is nothing new in real estate .. there can be nothing they are sending out in their materials that is not known to the RE community and talked about daily on a site like BP... but again if someone wants to pay  3k for their materials that OK in my mind.. its just the way these companies package this stuff that goes against most of us that have been hard money lenders or are HML ers business practices.. and I get where they are coming from.. the begineer is by far the highest risk borrower.. and in todays world if you have 10% to put down most HML will fund you if you have a good deal and for nothing up front.. they will help you underwrite it since it their money.. and the rates will be substantially less. shop around and see..then lastly if someone does not have 10% in cash and good amount of reserves to go into fix and flip is highly risky its highly risky to start any business undercapitalized.. 

(an igniter once in a while, so what). 

I remember an old Kenny Rogers song...that sticks in my head with every real estate transaction (sometimes it's a lot like gambling)Know when to fold 'emKnow when to walk awayAnd know when to runYou never count your moneyWhen you're sittin' at the tableThere'll be time enough for countin'When the dealin's done.

Getting rich quick, could make you do something that is closer to gambling than investing. 

Unless you have well rounds skills and knowledge in the structural and MEP arena, NOT doing it is a Vegas type gamble.