i lost a final offer war with someone else on the PERFECT duplex property and then this one I'm settling on now is about 85% as nice hahaha. i know its comparing apples to oranges but i really had found a "unicorn property" and lost it!!

It’s not exactly apples to apples.

Aside from the standard BR/BA count and square footage, I always focus heavily on the listing pictures for any comps I pull in my area - finding a comp that's as close to your property's condition and finishes will give you the best apples-to-apples comparison possible.I also wanted to second @Tim Swierczek's input: nobody in Minnesota likes moving in the middle of winter.  

Then you will have an apples to apples price comparison. 

Or you excluded something from the actuals but didn’t also exclude it from the budget numbers to get a true apples to apples comparison (yes).

We've installed the Moen leak detection device, which detects leaks both hot water and cold water, and monitors water usage and gives you weekly reports.

I'm not saying all wholesalers are bad apples, but I have seen way too many vulnerable homeowners be taken advantage of for this not to a problem.

If you instead have a $100k balance on your HELOC @ 5%, and you make the same $536.82 payment as you did above (apples to apples), you will get the same breakdown of interest and principal (assuming you make a single monthly payment at the end of the month).

This allows the GC to make sure they are comparing apples to apples.

FYI - When I appled for a City STR permit, the inspector that showed up was interested in only 2 things: Fire extinguishers on each floor with large signs, and working Smoke/CO2 detectors.I expected them to get upset over the old stairs (1940s) which were very narrow (29").