If not the county should be close to auctioning it off if they haven’t auctioned off the liens already.). 

Right now at 25k so 17k off.

Having a 24 month term on the front end will also make my job easier doing the take-out loan when it's time to refinance into permanent debt, because there's room in there for a full year of tax returns to have been done in the middle (if your exit plan is to sell, it'll also make it easier on your buyer who will presumably be willing to pay a higher price if they can get an A-paper good mortgage).Ask for a 24 month term, tell your contractor you want it done in a year (and make it financially worth their while if they can pull it off), internally/mentally plan on 18 months, and I'm putting you on notice now to do your tax returns on time, rather than extending them (don't fight me on this, please just do it).Trying to get a renovation mortgage like this for only 1 point is likely a waste of your time, but if you want to ask, after you've secured the above as a 'done deal,' go for it, can't hurt. 

I just got off the initial call with a rep from Lower earlier today, and so far so good.

I’m a first time real estate investor that is about to sign off on a duplex for lease.

Seems like something is off there.

Two months later, the investment of time and money paid off in a huge way.

@Yocheved BeerTypically noIt’s the power of purchase price or appraisal is what lenders go off of

Some great answers, my intent would not be to spend the $$ on the investment property but to pay off the mortgage on the primary.

You’re better off finding a tenant who will respect your boundaries.