I tried Craigslist and Hubzu ( very weak web site in my opinion)..

let's connect first time buyer have a lot of options but you need to learn the game and have a plan.And yes the government is not there to help.. is like banks they are there to give you debt no help...You need to do reseach and learn your options.And the fact you are here in this web site is a great starting point.

If you're looking for an agency (Fannie/Freddie) type loan (whether owner-occupied or investment), they won't allow your friend to cosign with you since it has to be a close relative for the sameIf you're looking to cross-collateralize your other assets, a local bank/credit union is your best bet since they can be flexible when it comes to specialized financing situations like this Since your friend is willing to cosign, I'd say form an LLC with both of you as members.

When I was researching this topic a long time ago, I saw a company that used animated characters on it's web site to explain how it works.  

source=web

Now once you have a few under your bet and the contractors know you are serious, they will be more likely to get with you for your estimates.As has already been mentioned, BP has some great guides that can get you moving in the right direction. 

It sounds cheap, but I bet it comes with a lot of headaches.

First off I want to say what a wonderful resource the BP forums and web site have been to me so far.

I figure your best bet is to find several people, so if one is busy or can’t do it or bails, you have other options

@Anthony Wick I'm willing to bet that every single one of us have had an unexpected expense in our lives.