I have noticed that some traditional loans you can put down as low as 5%, some will allow for the PMI to be amortize.

I heard a lot of good things about Ikea's cabinets too, and would like to suggest that you use someone that has experience install IKEA cabinets specifically because they are built different from traditional cabinets.As far as the countertop, I chose quartz and a grey color quartz to be exact, because they are the best to hide imperfections.  

I myself never have but I was thinking maybe I could do a few on some of the more obscure things I have done RE related that are really never talked about on BP and could be of interest for those that want to go deeper into some of the non traditional RE type of investments. 

If I buy a rehab I understand i can't get a traditional loan and will have to get a loan from hard money lender hence the need to get pre-approval with hard money lender first.

Not very far away, about 6 blocks away, a traditionally trendy high income neighborhood delineated by a main street, has become overpriced, so many buyers and investors have decided to start buying in this neighborhood, which is equally close to everything.  

When they are ready to refi they will need at least another 3.5% for FHA or worse 20% traditional.

The second is to try and find a home that would make a decent rental after we live in it, leaving left over credit to invest in investments with traditional financing.  

For example, if a traditional lender takes three months to close on a deal at 4% interest, but an alternative lender closes two deals at two weeks each (and they can) which allows you to flip two houses in that time, which is the better scenario?  

(maybe late 30s-early 40s)OR...If you guys think that newbies should stay away from trying to virtual wholesale, I can do it the somewhat traditional way of building a long time rental portfolio.

Getting a traditional loan?