Contractors, unless you have a working relationship with them, normally do not want you bouncing ideas off them.Understand what their hourly rate is, have a discussion with them that you are okay with paying them an hourly rate if they walk the property with you and provide you a scope of work along with an explanation of what you can/can't get away with in regards to improvements.ask them if you go with them, if they can credit you the amount that you paid.Once you develop a working relationship with a few contractors, you can bounce ideas off them and expect quality responses.I do not invest in New York.Best of luck. 

You can then rent at market rate but have to register it with the town annually and abide by their annual inflation rules.

FInd a good old school General Contractor and forget these engineers.

Hello All, I have a client asking if they could buy a portfolio of 5 properties (at a "packaged deal" rate) and sell off two of them to recoup some of the initial down money needed to buy them. 

If everything works out and you are dealing with a legit company this could be a great long term tenant paying above market rates. 

I would say anyone who has done 5 flips is experienced and that success rate should be closer to 90% and up.

Rent is below market rate for the general area.

Quote from @Sean Kirk: I'm seeing what seems to be 10%+ cap rates on roofstock.

As I'm sure you're well aware, the small multifamily space in metro ATL is competitive despite current interest rates. 

At CA tax rates it doesn't take much to be a significant number!