Ive also worked with agents on the traditional 3% model and had it work less than promised.

Here's a brief summary...Warren Buffett's Success is mostly attributable to: * Use of leverage * Focus on cheap, safe, quality stocks * Returns come more from stock selection than quality management * Wholly-owned companies perform the best“Berkshire Hathaway has realized a Sharpe ratio of 0.76, higher than any other stock or mutual fund with a history of more than 30 years, and Berkshire has a significant alpha to traditional risk factors.

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.  

Two of Philly's largest industries are education & medicine, both I believe would qualify as long term & stable industries.

It's a shame all the educated people today go into tech finance or medicine...

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