I did finally get 2 showings the other day, and there is news of rate drops coming, so maybe it will sell soon.

The home buying process typically follows these key steps:Assess Your Finances: Review your credit score, savings, and determine how much you can afford for a down payment and monthly mortgage payments.Get Pre-Approved for a Loan: Work with a lender to get pre-approved, which gives you a clear budget and shows sellers you’re a serious buyer.Find a Real Estate Agent: Partner with an experienced agent who knows the local market and can guide you through the process.Search for Homes: Browse listings and visit properties that fit your criteria (location, size, price, etc.).Make an Offer: When you find a home you like, submit an offer through your agent, including contingencies (financing, inspections, etc.).Home Inspection & Appraisal: Once the offer is accepted, hire an inspector to ensure the home’s condition and the lender will order an appraisal to verify the property’s value.Secure Financing: Finalize your mortgage by submitting required documents and ensuring the lender clears you for closing.Closing: Sign the final paperwork, pay closing costs, and receive the keys to your new home!

These will be converted to seller fi deals when I finalize the purchases.

I just finally told him no.

These may be the easiest because if they are new constructions or full gut rehabs, you can see what the final product value is, and what these developers are buying at.It would be a good skillset to have to actually understand renovation and build cost. 

We paid this guy $12,000 in August and he was able to do some demolition but according to him, his crew got arrested and he had other projects at the same time and he took about 2 months to finally reply to us and tell us he would finish the demolition and install a new roof (which was the quote he gave us for those 2 things).

When negotiating, did the renovation credits decrease your final purchase price and your monthly payment terms?

Finally, the views shared here are all from my experience.

You can also look at creative financing/subto or owner finance as an option and finally there are DSCR options that will allow you to go up to 85% of purchase (but there is a fairly severe interest rate penalty), so I'd recommend staying in the 70-80% range.

Finally, obtain a professional appraisal post-renovation to accurately determine the new value of your home.