Like the others say a partnership is one option; hard money lenders are another.

As to raising value, I'd say a renovation (if needed, bearing in mind that not everything adds value i.e. new curtain rods and bathroom fixtures aren't going to add $3k in equity, typically), additions, upgrades, etc.

@Kelly Claiborne I’d say a combination of knowledge & wanting a mentor.

For example, they would inspect your place (required) and say a smoke detector has been be moved a few feet, and then the electrician would quote a high rate because they knew it was required.  

Say a brick or block house with lower end linoleum, cheap MDF cabinets or beyond-the-pale carpeting. 

On that note, would the SBA be able to help me purchase say a small residential apartment building?  

My question is, if my partner and I decide to invest in, lets say....a condo, as partners, how will that work?

Id say a 10% premium is fair.  

I'd say a guy that didn't want to work with a woman must be nuts, some real issues there, more than half the Realtors here are women, AND, if any lender or investor type used gender as an excuse, I agree, avoid them, they are the ones lacking in the business arena!

There are some really good deals on there too, and you can always put in an indicative bid less than lets say a seller who is selling their NPN at 100% of the asking price.