It's a slim deal because at lower rental rates like you have, expenses eat away at cash flow very quickly.

HVAC contractor will:- supply and install 80k BTU 92% gas furnace on first floor- supply and install 3 ton coil- supply and install 3 ton condenser- supply and install 5 zone fujitsu mini split system on the 2nd floor with copper lines and slim duct (2-7k indoor, 2-9k indoor, 1-12k indoor units)- supply and install new duct grilles and registers- supply and install new refrigeration piping, exhaust piping, thermostat- supply and install new natural gas piping to accommodate gas load Estimate is $17,700 and I have no idea if this is fair or in the ball park.Any help or direction is much appreciated.

(Long story, but my husband & I recently became business owners and financing options are a bit slim with a business that's less than a year old in tow.

A lot of experienced investors are bidding in the auction, which makes the margin very slim; it is easy to over pay.  

I have ran the numbers on this deal myself when it came on the market and it was just to slim of a deal to be apart of(at least for me).

I would think chances of that are slim to none.I can't speak specifically as to whether or not you'll be able to receive $950/month in rent without knowing more about the home/location/demand, but the ratios seem too favorable based on most other available properties. 

There are no magic pills or words other than work smart and know what you are doing.

I wouldn't touch such a slim deal otherwise.

I ran a quick and dirty on the numbers you provided, and SWAG'd the total repair costs at $12.5K, an ARV of $90K (so purch at $50, repairs at $12.5K = $62.5k invested, FMV $90k), using these numbers and the $850 rents, well, long story short, you could pull about $16k out, with a 7% 30 year fixed, with a slim monthly cash flow about $66.

Or is it just that winter inventory is slim right now?