Need to pay down some leverage to keep that DTI healthy!

Plus the mortgage company probably calls the loan, and if you can't pay it off then you can lose the property.

Paint and pay me!

She said that if I pay $42,000 for the next 18 months, that she guarantees I will at least get this 42,000 back by the end of 18 months but probably much more. 

Use Real Estate By the Numbers as your guide, make sure it tracks the loan pay down and depreciation and have all of those numbers pour into a Schedule E.

I'd recommend looking at costs. your build cost is going to be well over other homes because of the fixed costs like slab, Hvac, roof, etc. check the market drivers and weight the benefits of short term versus long term. long term is no furniture and help pays mortgage but at this size it doesn't really cover everything. we didn't find a lot of economies of scale in single family detached. can you build more than one unit?

I'm willing to pay retail or close to retail for properties in 'A' locations.

For example, in my state PA there is an inheritance tax and many TAX auction properties originate from people passing away and the heir(s) not taking control over the estate and paying those property taxes.

Being part Alaska Native, there was incentive where they would pay your down payment and we utilized that tool!

If you aren’t saving the money up to buy another property chances are nothing will pay a higher rate than paying it towards your mortgage.