Once we sell should I venture out on my own or try to get my brother to invest his half on the next property together as a team?

Yes, most likely a cutting board or something blocking the flapper door. is the tablet coming out half or untouched?

I'd rather split half the money with someone than keep none of it all to myself.

Parents plan: My plans plus complete kitchen gut, new trim, new doors, remove fireplace to accommodate a new half bath and walk-in pantry(that one isnt as straight forward as it sounds because a beam had to be added to support the load and the entire house had to be re plumbed to add the bathroom!).

They are not always the easiest to work with (Compliance and documentation standpoints)  and are very sensitive to Rate increases (think Fed funds).  

Ive gotten to about half that goal in the past 6 months, and should hit my goal.EDIT: Title should have been Does The Fed's Rate Hike Affect Your Current Or Future Strategies?

We needed to replace a bathroom window and wanted frosted glass on half the window.

Understand too, a RMLO is not necessarily qualified as to knowledge or experience in underwriting (they are originators) especially in seller financed type transactions.Last item, balloon notes are allowed under Dodd-Frank, but the loan by a seller must be fully amortized and no balloon payment can be required until more than half of the principal has been paid.

For my tastes, unless and until I knew the answers to all theses questions, I would not offer more than half of the $1.2M ask. 

Yes, because the top half of the bottom third is...Where starter homes are located...Where I used to buy as a newer investor and continue to buy as a seasoned rehabber...Are a bit older so they tend to have the "right things wrong" with them...Because there are more houses at this tier than at the top...