One hidden factor in the bank's bid is whether the property has PMI.

I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area, but I'm sure location isn't a factor.

The actual condition of an in-ground pool is more of a factor to me when looking at a flip than whether it has one or not.

There appears to be many factors to research in detail before moving forward with a decision.  

So my vision is to rent this home out & not sell it, a big factor being I love to wrench on my cars and have no where else to store them.  

Operating without GLI exposes you greatly and the IRS frowns upon those who attempt to skirt the issue of employees by wrongfully claiming independent worker status.

What is the purpose of the seasoning requirement, do they vary based on lender, and do any other factors affect the length of the seasoning time (LTV, DTI)?  

AU takes into consideration the front end and back end ratios, credit score, reserve assets, and other factors. 

Lower price is not always better. 6) We can build a high-end finish home between $100 to $145 a sq foot for vertical construction costs depending on factors such as dirt and slope.

Everything, everywhere.Also, it's incredibly difficult for an inspector to approve work that he can't see - be prepared to tear down drywall to expose wiring (and is the insulation fire code approved?)