That’s a wide generalization and I’ve seen people that make $200k or more a year be total jerks and trash units, but I kind of get what he’s saying.

The local angle can give you that edge against other buyers, especially when you are dealing with high equity owners who might be older and a little weary of some company coming in wanting to buy their house.One down side to consider is, hand writing all of your letters will be time consuming, but there are ways to get around that.

The plan is to cut 4x8 boards by half and install them and use basic wood molding throughout the basement which is about 1000sq feet$4000 for drywall replacement, plaster of about 5-6 inches wide and moulding$2000 for paint if we want thatInsulation will be $800 extra if we want to do it - they plan to use fiberglass insulation and push them up all the way into the ceilingDoes this look reasonable, even for NYC?

You have to be an expert at dialogues and the risks of subto are not widely known or are said to never happen (loans being recalled), but that's not what I would bet on.

Would need dimensions and more angles for an input.

My journey to get here was totally wide.

That is because the light hits the ceiling at a totally different angle than the ceiling.  

Here are some options and considerations:Loan Against Equity/ETFs:Margin Loans:Description: Margin loans allow you to borrow money using your investments (such as stocks or ETFs) as collateral.Pros:You retain ownership of your investments.Generally quick access to funds.Interest rates can be relatively low compared to other types of loans.Cons:Your investments are used as collateral, so if their value declines significantly, you may face a margin call (requiring additional funds or securities).Interest rates can vary and may be higher than traditional loans depending on the lender and your creditworthiness.Securities-Based Line of Credit (SBLOC):Description: Similar to margin loans, SBLOCs use your securities (stocks, ETFs) as collateral, but they typically provide more flexibility and may not trigger margin calls as easily.Pros:Allows for ongoing access to funds as long as your collateral remains sufficient.Interest rates may be competitive.Cons:Similar risks of potential margin calls if the value of your securities drops significantly.Terms and interest rates can vary widely among lenders.Comparison with 401(k) Loans:401(k) Loans:Description: Borrowing from your 401(k) allows you to access funds without selling investments, using your retirement savings as collateral.Pros:Typically low interest rates.No credit check required.Interest paid on the loan goes back into your 401(k) account.Cons:Usually capped at a percentage of your vested balance (commonly up to 50% or $50,000).If you leave your job, the loan may need to be repaid immediately or could be considered a taxable distribution.Potential opportunity cost of missing out on market gains if funds are withdrawn from investments.Other Alternatives:Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC):Description: If you own a home with equity, a HELOC allows you to borrow against that equity at typically lower interest rates than unsecured loans.Pros:Lower interest rates compared to other types of loans.Interest may be tax-deductible if used for home improvements (consult a tax advisor).Cons:Your home serves as collateral, so failure to repay could result in foreclosure.Personal Loans:Description: Unsecured personal loans can be used for various purposes, including investing, but typically have higher interest rates than loans secured by collateral.Pros:No collateral required.Funds can be used for any purpose.Cons:Higher interest rates and stricter eligibility criteria based on creditworthiness.I am a loan officer and we do some of the loans stated above.

I believe they stopped using knob and tube wiring sometime in the 40s.Roof - Of course in that amount of years, most likely the roof has been replaced at least a couple times, but this is also a big ticket items to look closely at.Plumbing - I think it was sometime in the 80s when PVC pipes were starting to be widely used.  

Transfer on death deeds are not widely used, and in fact, the last that I had heard, were only recently extended in terms of availability in California.