@Joseph Nigro, when calculating ROI it's all the cash you brought to the table--down payment, closing costs, initial repairs, holding costs (if applicable).

I have close to a 800 FICO and a W2 job so getting financial should not be too difficult.Go local, attend a local REI meeting and let your numbers be known, what you are intending to do and who can you partner up with to get you there, you will find out about deals and  who is doing what right now that they will be able to bring to the table for you.

@Brian Buckingham I agree with everything that Michael mentioned here - asking if he is an investor himself is a wonderful question because then you know they have the knowledge from both sides of the table. 

I think we did that under the table.

It’s not house hacking - it’s taking money off the table on a monthly basis to deal with your own expenses (your own house).All of that is to say that it’s not the wrong thing to do.

Find stainless steel tables/carts/shelves to fill the empty spaces, and add a stainless backsplash panel thingy where the hole in the wall is.

Where most investors wind up leaving tax money on the table is the failure to tax plan and strategize.

I contacted a few RE attorneys in my area and before i choose which one i wanna use and make an appointment, what should i bring to the table when we start discussing my needs so i can get my moneys worth. 

I contacted a few RE attorneys in my area and before i choose which one i wanna use and make an appointment, what should i bring to the table when we start discussing my needs so i can get my moneys worth.So far what i was thinking was a couple of example P&S agreement and Assignment contracts so they can get the main idea of what I'm doing and what my goals are?

As previously stated, I do plan on undertaking a mild renovation (Paint, flooring, etc.) in which I can force a little appreciation, but am I leaving a lot of money on the table because I do not want to swing-and-miss on my first deal?