I happen to have a hybrid product that converts from fixed to floating in year 8; so, no balloon but still subject to interest rate risk.  

They may not get paid right away (they have to float the labor costs) and they have to over budget to make sure they don't go over and not get paid from the loan. 

There's plenty floating around the forums here.Some questions I might ask include whether or not they focus on real estate, their views on the tax code for investors and business owners, whether they do tax planning work and whether you will be working with them or members of their team.

I don't want to deal with contractors that need me to float their working capital with large deposits. 

How about signing up with all the asset management companies that work with the listings and you do not have direct relations.equator.comreoworld.com*******.comocwen.comreomac.comJust to name a few, there are lists floating around.

I did some searching of prior threads on here, but wasn't able to get too many solid answers for what I'm looking for, so I'll tell you as much as I can think of here about the house and the paint job: -Its a 1700 sq foot, 2 story house that's just had new drywall installed on over 3/4 of the walls (we demo'd most of the ceilings for new wiring and insulation and a lot of the walls were pretty messed up, so it was easier to go over them with new drywall than to attempt to float them smooth with compound, etc.) and the walls that were left original were pretty straight and any cracks in them were patched, mudded and sanded smooth by the drywall guys.

It's hard to see that a lock at a higher rate than floating could be beneficial,  but it hedges risk when borrowing for longer term holds.  

In the east, we tend to have the ad valorem system so the rate floats and its the assessment that matters, but it doesn't change with the purchase price.Also, there is the Homestead tax rebate in some areas which is available to homeowners who live in the residence..So, given the large swath of info you are trying to figure, you need to be location specific. 

You'll need a rising tide to float your ship.  

This is why many people are using the floating floor.