If you can find one that was built before 1972 and has had the basement suite since before then, it could fall under grandfathered rules, which as long as it has windows of proper egress size, interconnected hardwired smoke alarms, and a private entrance, doesn't require much else in the way of upgrades or zoning.

Find someone that doesn't blow much smoke. 

But in all honesty I am about out of the rehab business we morphed into new construction about 6 years ago and I like that a whole lot better.. more predictable.. harder to get financed but once you have that your golden.. and of course in Oregon competitive as heck for lots.Unless you want to buy lots in K falls my bank owns a few hundred there we can get a smoking deal on LOL

I'm currently reading J Scott's book on estimating but with no experience I'm still in the dark a bit.

I think most people will be in the dark on their own tax situation til they actually file their taxes next year.

Plumbing issues, oil heat and who is responsible if they let the tank run dry, batteries in smoke and CO detectors....

Not to mention most only charge for apprasials.the issues others have brought up is the 3,000 is non refundable if you never bring them a deal that meets THEIR underwriting criteria.. and of course simple logic would dictate that since its a new investor generally speaking  they are going to have the hardest time finding smoking deals which at the end of the day if I was DHM I would do the exact same thing.. except I would not be charging for turn downs like they do.. there are have been others on BP that paid the 3k PLUS 650 a submission only to have 2 or 3 turned down and never did get funded and now they are out 4 to 5k.. then others who have lost EM.But there have been some on BP that said they got funded but then whinned about the draw process.IE DHM ( according to them) required the borrower to front draw money and DHM would reimburse.. this caused all sorts of problems for the no money down flipper.. as you know they are on a tight budget.then lastly the rates were not clearly described and from what I could glean these guys were 4 to 6 points and 15 to 18% interest and in the flipping world you know who is going to make money on those deals and its generally not the borrower..

Is there any way to completely remove the smell of cigarette smoke from a house, without replacing the carpet?

Do people go out after dark?

I want the agent to first look at the property online as well as physically before calling/emailing me.You are welcome to talk with the local RE agent I worked with over the last several years to see that I am not blowing smoke and won't waste your time.