BOard up all windows and use metal security doors.. while in the rehab stage and especially if there is mechanicals in the house that are new.

I am trying to set the stage for myself in the next few years of my life I appreciate any networking possibilities and starting advice that can be offered. 

I am in the final stages of getting the mortgage approved in on Bank and another bank offer me a mortgage but at 8,5% plus annual fees landing the mortgage at over 10%pa.Does anyone have alternative ideas on how I can get finance for my projects and get my business going?

Thank you for the compliment @Joe Fernandez . 3 years ago I would have said someone with 10 properties has past the "beginner" stage.

But still in the first stage of finding as much as possible to analyze the property and mitigate risk.

Interested in buying small buy-and-hold properties in the Netherlands, South Africa, (Johannesburg or Cape Town) and further afield at some stage. 

We put the home under contract within 1 hour of it hitting the market, this house also had multiple cash backup offers on the property Budget - 225-250k, finalizing final numbers with general contractor and subs Blueprints - see attached, laser drawing stage.

Remember that they are only an owner at this stage and that you have assumed that they would be a seller.

However, as a newbie, I have been reading over the the ultimate beginner's guide to real estate investing that BP offers and I have been doing some other readings on my own and I know at my stage, having a firm financial intelligence foundation is of most importance.

Im a brand spanking new investor still in the learning stage and,after readimg through the thread, I decided to forego that plan and try it on my own.