Few brokers have recommended a 5 year Balloon loan but I want to explore the best option available in the market currently. 

We recommend you get management contracts from several PMCs and compare the services they cover and, more importantly, what they each DO NOT cover.

Also, as someone recommended above, check in with the contractor frequently.Best of luck to you!  

Exactly what Marcia said.If you decide you want to learn tiling, I would recommend hanging around the John Bridge tile forums  There are many friendly folks there to answer your questions.

If you don't, is that something you would recommend doing or not?  

Any recommendations for cold calling lists for either Wholesaling, or retail selling ( I am a realtor / flipper / associate architect).

Each person can provide a recommendation for the appraiser and the other party agreeIf you cannot agree on an appraiser then you sure as you know what will never come to an agreement on the price.Another option is to list it and you have ROFR

I recommend. 

if you buy a property at market price in a good neighborhood - you will break even or lose money.and in general, if you're serious about this, i'd recommend going to your chosen market in person, probably multiple times, to set up your team. 

This implies you should be able to exit about even (small profit or loss).. https://www.corelogic.com/intelligence/us-home-price-insight...if your hold was longer so there was significant prop 13 discount I may recommend holding but not the case here.