Quote from @Scott Tennell: What creative financing strategies have you found to be the most effective in today's real estate market, especially in terms of working with sellers or investors in challenging conditions?

It’s especially effective in eastern PA, where competition and inventory can be tough.If you’ve got $80K, I’d suggest capping your initial spend at $60-65K.

I will play devil's advocate and mention what kind of properties you may get creatively.

And this seems to be effective. 

It may effect lease renewals.  

I let them run to the end of the year as m-t-m, then send a rent raise letter, usually for $25 or $50, on or about Nov 1, effective Jan 1. 

The way I read that clause, if you and the landlord cannot agree on what rooms to paint and the painting is not complete within 3 months then that clause does not take effect.

Welcome advice on cost-effective way to transfer money.

At the end of the day, 5% of $80 is more than 2.5% of $100 and the fee models used in the industry will sometimes lead the listing agent's to go from being the seller's advocate to the buyers.

I met a young lady on FB really advocating for them.