., taking away my personal bias, how do I know if it is or isn't compared to the market/area and if I could get it there?

For my 9-5, I work for a contactor so might have been bias but I had some doubts from your initial posts.So it sounds like you've paid $6,666 to the original guy plus $2,000 in direct purchase materials (kinda) and have paid $4,000 to finish/fix the original contract amount so I'm team stephanie.Sounds like you made a quick recovery and your direct cost of this lesson is going to be pretty reasonable all things considered.

Now you may say that this is a biased answer coming from me, a transactional lender, but don't take my word for it.  

Yes, I am biased, but also know both areas.  

Old Capital is awesome ... but I might be a little bias! 

I am biased, but I think it's the best neighborhood for raising a family.

Also guys- I guess I'm biased again on this, but hear me out....After spending some time on bigger pockets you'll notice that Millennials are obviously interested in real estate.  

I own in an expensive area & buy in the same expensive area, done in a similar fashion as you Ross except owned in the cheaper outskirts area, have done well doing that, and have done not nearly as well buying cheap elsewhere, so I may be biased. 

Ensure that you are not impacted by biased renovation "necessities".

So watchout for biased answers .First point - If you think from a common sense / ethics point of view , it is clearly shady .