I'm spitting nails right now cause these guys are fraudsters.

I partner with a rockstar contractor and a top level investor friendly agent and if we buy right and nail our numbers, there is plenty to split at the end.  

I also have a lending partner who can finance STR deals with only 15% down if you wanted to preserve some capital.

Homes built pre 1990 usually didnt have screwed in sheetrock it was all nailed in.

The other overwhelming thing is just nailing down which market. 

Collecting rent, preserving the asset, minimizing vacancy.

Pudding nail holes.

This preserves the higher FMV basis for the child while minimizing gift tax implications.

Zillow Senior Economist Orphe Divounguy nailed it when he said mortgage rates have a massive impact on affordability.

@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.