If you can't deck all the way to the back, have an upper deck and take the irregular form to the back with landscaping.

I'm OK with it if there's a very good chance I'll make money back, but I don't ever do it lightly. 

Dodd-Frank, the SAFE Act and other legislation in the last 10-years as dramatically changed the landscape around those transactions.

With a direct mail campaign you can acquire some undervalued properties do some light rehabbing and put them on the market just below current market prices for a quick sale.

Repairs will be minimal landscape and inside rehab and I will guess on high side 20K. 

As I sit on the Board of Advisors for a different crowdfunding company, I'll tread lightly here...but I will address this one point above...As someone who both understands house flipping and understands financing math, I can't get my head around the idea of turning a freshly rehabbed property into a short-term rental.  

When we bought our last home everyone though we were foolish because instead of landscaping our backyard we scrimped and saved to buy another house. 

My light bulb went on!

I've been doing for 18 yrs. 11 Certifications.Can maintain cleaning swimming pools and landscape too.

Paint, flooring, sinks, toilets, light fixtures, etc are an easy quick fix and make a world of difference.