I typically see a turn around play that costs around 15-20k per unit in this market, and with that money we can get a nice product that has pretty much everything done on it from the windows, roof, electrical some plumbing all the way to the kitchens and baths. 

I posted in the forum looking for book recommendations for improving business, productivity, communication, leadership, etc... what makes a successful investor a successful investor.

Not only this, but the sale of my home first gave me the cash position to purchase his home after so essentially NO MONEY OUT OF POCKET.While this was going on, I had to get creative with financing as my debt-to-income ratio wasn't going to work with a traditional Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac product.

If you want to figure out whether you're looking at a good potential value add opportunity, you need to evaluate the physical condition of the property and comparable properties.

Since most banks /lenders may not be aware of this, how do we get this product?

I know in parts of the country were they have to rely on title abstractors to physically go to the court house that takes time.. and what I see taking the most time in the big back east cities we work in.. is trying to figure out the UTL bills.. in our markets here other than the city of Portland the Bills did not attach to the property.. so it was not a worry.. it was just figuring out Lien positions and regular tax's and any other Liens that maybe on the property like IRS etc..   

Because of my situation, it's physically difficult for me to spend money.

Nothing beats being the place physically and just getting a feel for it.Also migration patterns are people moving in our out of that area.

If you install inferior products or dont address issues At some point in time those decisions will come back to bite you. 

Someone out there is going to have a product that will get him a conventional loan with less than the 2 years requirements mentioned above.