It gave you the status of someone that knew what they were doing and could handle all the required items involved, it was not a case of the blind leading the blind and the other party liked that.

Often this means that your captured equity (difference between purchase and after repair appraisal) covers your downpayment or at least a large chunk of it.  

Look at all the places they do not want you to inspect to find the expensive repair items that could turn the deal into a dud.Great cash flow in years one and two can be wiped out at once with a few big ticket repair items.Some TK companies are good but it's buyer beware out there. 

I feel like I should get some basic items in order first or would it be better to do it all simultaneously?? 

We ended up doing about $5,000 worth of upgrades (all new backyard fence (and the backyard was huge), kitchen backsplash, etc.)What caught me off guard more than anything was the utility bills, on going lawn care, open house and "realtor love" expense, a few staging items, etc.  

It has been over 5 years and he has been on probation with nothing but good references and works as a construction project manager so problems with the house will be only major issues all small items he can handle.

Check with your agent but here are a few items that should be placed in the special stipulations portion of your contract (special stips will often control over conflicting stips in the contract which is why you want to put them here):- Due diligence starts when the Seller delivers to the Buyer the bank approval letter- Earnest money is due within X number of days from the time the Seller delivers the bank approval letter (BAL) to the Buyer- Closing shall take place within 30 days of the Buyer receiving the BAL- Buyer may, at Buyers sole discretion, terminate this contract if the sale of the property is not approved by the Sellers lender within 90 days of the Binding Agreement Date. 

I know what rent cost on the peninsula. when my daughter first went to work for Intel she paid 2800 a month for 2bd apartment in Whisky Gulch  PA.If anyone who is actually building would like to swap hard cards we could go through line items and see why we can build custom for 110 to 120 a foot and your paying 300 a foot.Not sure what permits are on the peninsula on the Spec in Lake Oswego that I show Minh when he was here I paid right at 40k for building permits and all SDC's..

I wouldn’t distinguish this from anything else like inspection items used as a tactic to renegotiate.

Going forward, set the expectation up front along with a checklist of items to complete in order to get back the full depositHappy investing!