How bout this, rather than sinking so much money into Dead Equity, look at paying off other NON tax deductible debt, invest it in retirement savings like a Roth IRA, Annuity, Loan the money out thru a company like Prosper or simply put that money in the bank and let it subsidize your monthly nut.   

Check for fraud in payments and distributions to non existent contractors.

It is worth considering areas like McKinley Park (right next to Bridgeport and also becoming a Western extension of Chinatown), West Pilsen (still seedy enough to yield an occasional good deal), or Bronzeville (again, pockets of dereliction open up the opportunity to help clean up your own little corner of the neighborhood). 

Nice answer Belinda Lopez, now it looks clean in front of the seller.

A tiered offer could look like this:$900,000 with 45 days due diligence, 30 days to close and a financing contingency$850,000 with 30 days due diligence, 30 days to close$750,000 with a $100,000 non-refundable deposit and 30 days to close

I am an Active Duty Marine Corps Warrant Officer that is stationed in Camp Pendleton, California (San Diego area for the non military folks).

HUD 223(f) can do 85% LTV (minimum), 35 year fixed rate, non-recourse, but there are more soft costs involved and timing is longer than Freddie SBL or a bank.

Some only accept accredited investors some also accept non-accredited but sophisticated investors for their deals.There are great webinars, podcasts and blogs on this exciting and much more scalable subject.

Do you think building a nice website to outline all benefits of the lot size/location, nearby amenities, pretty pictures and video and a clean way to submit bids and stay in touch with me...would all that be overkill? 

So I can put my terms, such as a non refundable deposit, rights to the contract if assignee fails to perform on C.O.E, rights to communicate with escrow agent after assignment.Im not a realtor, new investor.Any escrow agents in SFV, California whom are familiar with assaignments