Small stuff, like the elbow end piece on a down spout is an improvement, but since it can be ripped off and float away like the last one did, I'd write off the little incidentals.

You'll normally have to have enough cash in the bank to show you can complete your project as well, but with as much cash that's floating around the industry lately, 100% financing is often available after you've built a few relationships, have the requisite experience, and of course, a viable deal.The collateral will be the home you borrow against -- typically the flip itself.

I am currently updating my rental units to the manufactured floating wood floors and/or ceramic. 

Otherwise, rent can float.

. , I have my source lists in Excel, but I want to be able to put them all into one database, rather than having multiple Excel docs floating around that I have to compare.  

Most of the US housing market is still floating and maybe slowly dropping.

In order to continuously float 4 deals, you should use hard money loans to spread out your cash.2.

And, there's not much money lost if you simply comply and do your deal, the loss comes from a buyer who isn't qualified anyway, so the only money "lost" is from your poly to pick pockets, not from closing a real deal.I agree with you, don't test the waters unless you have the pockets to float your way back to shore. :)

Until they go to lock that day the rate is floating.

In general, LTRs won't require as much hands on time once you get it rented, it'll be close enough to you that you can get there quickly if needed, the mortgage should be low enough that you can float it for a few months if it takes time to get it rented, and you already know your local market.If you haven't selected an investing strategy yet I have concerns maybe you've skipped some other first steps too.