Unfortunately, there is no tooth fairy answer to your situation.

Eventually, I'm told, you can see this once you're a gold-star type host, but until then the info is masked so you have no way of pre-authorizing or charging the card.

@Isaac Pyle I'm in a similar situation, too.

To do that, well, I doubt reality is going to shift to what you want so odd's are your going to have to shift too the reality. 

He also should have know the consequenses of a sheriffs sale.The other agent also told him that the bank fully approved the short sale; perhaps that's inappropriate too?

Terrified we would lose out on the house after 6 months of fighting tooth and nail for it, I asked if they had a list of contractors that have worked with this kind of loan before to eliminate the risk of our contractor not being approved.

I'm just asking, markets can be very different.)I really agree with Greg S too.  

The same probably holds true in the North Houston area too - the new ExxonMobil campus in the Woodlands, the widening of 45, Conroe is booming at the moment.  

Gather these documents and go over them with a fine tooth comb.Your numbers look something like this..net income: $66,000down payment (25% down @ $600,000): $150,000ROI: 44%That is an outstanding return.

Pre-qualificationIf you are too "Poor" to buy what you want in a neighborhood you are comfortable in, look at 1st time housing grants to increase your down payment amount so you can buy more house.The amount of the loan, and the amount of your down payment + grant will dictate a particular MAX purchase price for you.Be sure to allow for closing cost and loan costs in your calculations.Once you have that MAX dollar amount you can spend start looking at what you can afford in different neighborhoods.For instance in some cities you might find a Class D neighborhood 4 plex in good shape for the same price as a Class B neighborhood duplex.The Class D place might give you more cash flow than the Class B too, [BUT]Maybe your chance of getting robbed or shot or carjacked in the Class D neighborhood might be greater than the Class B neighborhood (so factor things like that in too).The question is still which should you buy--First whittle it down to specific properties the Bank will let you Afford--then make an apples to Oranges comparison as best you can.