At the same time we allow the same companies to pressure doctors through samples and incentives to push certain medications on us as patients.

Some patients (called "clients") need oxygen, so tear out the walls and use stainless approved plumbing and all the fittings to hook that up, you'll be a hundred grand on your way to your budget limit, but you might get luck there depending on what clients you can accept.

You need this safety margin to cover for things that can go wrong and to give you adequate profit for taking on the risk of doing this.With your background as a handyman, you have an advantage on many others because you know how things go together, just be careful not to get a false sense of security about the costs by underestimating the value of your own time if you are doing the work.

There are zip codes around me that I want to work in and, for personal safety reasons, other zip codes that I won't go anywhere near.Also you are right that with too much equity the banks will consider a loan mod or refi.

Again, direct from the HUD website:The housing unit selected by the family must meet an acceptable level of health and safety before the PHA can approve the unit.

Am I just not being patient enough?

Be patient.

Be honest, patient, and keep communication.

One is to think of doing flips to generate cash for future buy-and-hold investments.The other is to be patient.

I have p[aid 18% to investors and their funds are highly secured, very passive, and no intense investigations required for safety.