I'm a real estate newbie, but I've got a lot of applicable skills from 13 years in start-ups, running businesses, a Kellogg MBA, masters of engineering in design thinking / innovation, etc.

I'm an trained nuclear mechanic and dropped out of my civil engineering degree during my senior design project to begin investing. 

What I've done is "reverse engineer" the BP calculators and create my own spreadsheets that incorporate specific items I felt the calculators were missing (minor details and region specific items). 

My name is Allen and I recently moved to Santa Clara, CA.I studied Industrial Operations Engineering at University of Michigan and graduated in 2012.

He thinks I do that  No , thats the engineers job  I dig the footers .  

We just put in engineered floors in the first level (living) and they said they will put their oriental and another rug by the front door.

You should also noticed a pack of engineers, financial experts, and lawyers also work on this kind of deal.Full disclosure... 

When you work the seller financing angle, engineer deal structure with the intention of the seller coming back to the well later.

Beams will be stained to match new engineered dark floors.

i'd say make the choice that creates the best ROI. these days i'd say an open floorplan with large kitchen/master suite/bathroom are the essentials.don't over design/analyse. keep it simple. you will not be living here, so there isn't reason to go overboard with fancy layouts and re-engineering a house with good bones.This is your business.