@Aaron Anderson  Yes, this is common and happens all the time.  

That's fairly common with auctions. 

Couldn't get financing as the banks here only use US tax returns as a way to qualify income which I wasn't expecting (Common Cayman!).

Considering they all have the same term of 12-18 months, and a projected net profit of 1.5x equity multiple, (a $1MM project, with a $1.5MM ARV) which would you rather:-Debt securities, secured by the property, monthly returns, typically at a higher rate, no accrued returns or profit sharing; or,-Preferred equity, higher risk, quarterly returns at a lower current rate, with a set accrued return which brings your total returns higher than would be with debt; or,-Common equity, highest risk, quarterly returns similar to preferred equity, profit sharing upon sale or refinancing the property based on your % equity ownership.Also, any additional information you're willing to share would be great such as the type of deals you've invested in and the performance/results of those investments, especially if they influenced your decision.

It is very common to see properties selling for 2-3 million in Vancouver (with the average I'm sure nearing a million)...

I think it's pretty commonly held knowledge, at least by those of us living in the Houston area, that our city has grown exponentially over recent decades.Well, CultureMap posted a pretty cool .gif the other day showing by just how much the city and surrounding areas have expanded since the 1940's, with the most impressive growth spurts coming since the 1970's.You can view the brief article and .gif here: http://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/05-16-16-see-how-dramatically-houston-has-grown-since-the-1970s/

Multiple Offers above asking price are quite common, especially for clean, move in ready homes located in good school districts. 

So many people rant about a company, but never really say what the actual problem is, so it's hard to say if the problem is with the company or some sort of "user error".  

How are the common areas?

Many Lenders that offer 100% Financing are less than scrupulous, and this commonly considered a red flag if you see it offered.One thing you might consider: seeking an equity Investor interested in going in on a Joint Venture type of deal.