You will always get more if you put it on the MLS. 

You are missing my point on taxes.Scenario 1:  Your partner buys the house at the same time you put your cash in.  

We don't reach that point until we have had the opportunity to understand what an investor wants, their motivations, long-term goals, and risk profile.  

That puts you in the top 60% of Americans.

I told them that I work with real estate investors that would be able to help them and put some money in their pocket to help them with their crushing debt and bills so they wont go into foreclosure on both houses How did you finance this deal?

Unfortunately I am only prepared to put 10% down. 

I get that, I doubt he'd give me someone he didn't feel like would put in a good word... 

We have 20% to put down up to this price.

@Alex Lee - A conventional renovation loan is not an FHA loan and requires a larger down payment...with the Homestyle renovation loan you can put down as low as 5%.If you can do Homestyle instead of FHA 203k, I think that is a bit easier since there are not as many regulations and requirements.  

When you buy a property at a time, the risk from the uncertainty is small.