This should be spread out internationally and be more weighted in bonds than equities right now.3.

@Allen Duan can you help shed some light on how you're handling insurance in your rent-by-room properties?

This may shed light on longer term issues and deferred maintenance.If you are interested in condos, you should check for the local chapter of Community Association Institute for excellent resources for Owners and Board Members to learn about their responsibilities and how to fulfill them.

Perhaps anyone reading this could shed some some light and share some contact information of lenders that could help with the approval process. 

Did you take wood working classes in High School (and like it), have you ever built anything yourself yet (shed, garage, helped out an a hammer swinging rehab, etc...), do come from a construction trades background? 

I hope more folks can shed some light on how it works. 

I alway recommend new investors find a light value add deal that has in place cash flow and a clear path to stabilization with maybe some infill but not heavily weighted on it.

Its a corner lot with both a shed and a carport.  

Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

There are people who get motivated to do something such as loose weight so they buy a membership to a gym because in their mind that is the first step to getting into shape.