Rehabbed them with shoddy contractors, my husband, my friends, children who I pay and teach the skills, and lots of blood, sweat, and tears. :-)

I spent less than $9K in improvements but put a lot of sweat equity in to this house and it paid off.

I wouldn't sweat it too much though.

@Scott McMahan $15k and a whole lotta sweat ;) I did all the electrical, flooring, painting, finish work and the cabinet installation myself.

Yes, as a newbie, dialing and driving for dollars, it helps keeping me inspired to put in more sweat equity.

Or if you were inquiring about how to invest in a sweat-equity property that you could simultaneously inhabit and rehab. 

Also don't sweat the rates too much, yes they have started to go up, but they won't go up 2-4% in the next 6 months so if you can't move now it won't be a killer to wait 3-4 more months and then start looking.

I approach Armando about proving his snake oil will work in the real world, and he started to sweat, and he tried to find an exit.Joe Gore

I've learned a ton on BP and know that no amount of learning substitutes for "sweat equity" and actually getting out there and doing it.

Sell this bad boy with 10k down plus arrears, sweat equity from the buyer for the repairs...