Here is some key information:Property recently hit the market and has 2 cash offers alreadyThe seller provided a pre-inspection report, which I shared with 2 different lenders, both think it may fail conventional financing due to potential structural and electrical issues (realtor thinks it could pass conventional)Seller has 100% equity but is behind on other payments (not sure of the urgency money is needed)This is my first attempt at an “investment” property so I’m new to thisI see 3 optionsMove forward with an offer using conventional loan pre-qualification-Not as attractive of an offer to the seller-Possibility that appraiser calls out structural/electrical issues that need to be fixed before closing, effectively causing financing to fail- Best terms and fewest loan fees for meUse a rehab style loan such as ChoiceRenovation-Even less attractive than a conventional offer to seller, but less risk of failed financing if appraiser calls out issues-Slightly worse fees and interest rates compared to conventional-Lenders tell me possibly up to 60-90 days closing in some cases, with red-tape for contractor requirements and draw schedules (sounds like the most hoops to jump through during rehab)Use a hard money lender-Most attractive loan option I can give to seller so I can compete-Much higher fees and interest rate for me-need to refinance into a conventional at the end of rehab (not familiar with seasoning periods but I think this is a factor as well)Which option would you do?

IMO 6 months is nothing compared to other illiquid assets.

I think the folks that pay for these programs have the wherewithal to simply cut a check and its no big expense to them compared to what they stand to get out of it. 

  $6.25k feels manageable, so I compared the rent vs purchase numbers.  

Account Closed Hi Rhonda, If honest I spent about $8,000, some say its a lot, (my parents did) some say its small when compared to many programs out there, either way I took a leap of faith and saw the potential it had for my future.  

Dustin, you're comparing apples and pears.

I would compare my return with any market, anywhere but 1) this is a different San Diego market than the one I have been so successful in 2) while I am a big fan of leverage, I am not a fan of over leverage.

So, they got taken advantage of.4) They didn't do enough research on comparable properties before doing repairs - so went either overboard or slumlord, instead of properly Maintaining to the Neighborhood.The other challenge we encounter often is investors expecting perfection.

Fortunately for our 100+ house community, the fire department was already on site battling the brush fire and about a dozen fire fighters frantically extinguished the 4 or 5 roofs burning.This is insignificant compared to what has happened in LA, Palisades, Malibu and Altadena however having lived through Hurricane Andrew and many other major storms even this experience was drastically more terrifying and chaotic. 

I usually run several CMAs, with different criterial, and of course compare tax appraisal value with a wholesale price, add 5% as a fee to a transaction, in some cases.