So it looks like we are already over Our expected budget and approximately 75% done in guessing. 

Beyond the bedrock issue, soil conditions can be costly if the property has problematic soils such as too much silt, deep topsoil, or extensive wetlands.You'll also want to know what ordinances are going to affect your budget - things like tap fees, tree ordinances, storm water retention policies, etc.Bottom line is that you have to investigate ordinances, off-site conditions, and on-site conditions before you can even begin to budget your development.

This decision increased our budget from $15K to $45K, but it turned out to be a wise investment.The increased budget allowed us to enhance the property's overall value significantly, and we were able to sell it for a much higher price than initially anticipated.

This decision increased our budget from $15K to $45K, but it turned out to be a wise investment.The increased budget allowed us to enhance the property's overall value significantly, and we were able to sell it for a much higher price than initially anticipated.

Eliminate debt, establish a budget, and save.

We use DealCheck to underwrite deals and QuickBooks Online for everything related to accounting and budgeting.

Over-budgeting is critical to ensure that renovations don’t eat into your profits.Market Fluctuations: If property values in your area do not appreciate as expected, or if you face a market downturn, the amount you can refinance for may be lower than anticipated.Financing Challenges: Securing financing for the initial purchase and rehab, as well as refinancing after the property is rehabbed, may be challenging, particularly if the property is located in an area with fluctuating values or if the rehab work doesn’t immediately improve the property’s appraised value.Tenant Risk: Rent collection and tenant management can be unpredictable.

We're willing to live almost anywhere in the greater Sacramento area based on what we can afford, provided of course that the property is in a decent neighborhood that has a good chance of attracting responsible tenants.As for budget, I believe we could get a conventional loan for properties up to $600k, but my strong preference is to find a distressed property (or seller!)

My goal would be to start within 1-2 years and get some more experience with the construction process, project management, financing/budgeting, etc.

@Robert Gorra - I've had a similar experience where I've had a really hard time with getting GC's to even give me an estimate, and the few that have have been way overpriced (ie, they want me to put in $20k of cabinets in a budget flip) or have had their prices go up by about 40% and still not give me a firm price when I try to nail down the scope of work.