We put around $15k out of our own pockets into it, and used an energy efficiency loan ($15k) to insulate, install new windows, and add an ASHP with ductwork.

If you really really want to buy an apartment in New York City the first thing you should do is to go to a Mortgage originator and go to FTC.gov and download your free credit report and bring that with youYour past credit history is not the biggest problem; what is the biggest problem is that you are aggressive in building new referencesThe fastest way to build a stronger credit report is to do what's called "bank round robin"Take $1000 and go to bank one like Bank of New York, and talk to the manager and say that youd like to build a credit rating and get a mortgage within 12 monthsTheyll give you a secured loan with your thousand; then you take that thousand and go to bank to like Wells FargoTell the bank manager the same thing, that you want to pledge that thousand as a secured CD or savings account and get a  $1000 loanThese are called installment loans and now your job is to double up on payments on both loansSo it say your payments $80 a month with each loan or 160 for both of them every monthYou then make four payments every month and they'll be paid off in six monthsAt the end of six months you have 2 open accounts with two banks on installment loans, and paid as agreed with zero balancesYou may want to take one of those credit cards and establish credit at Macy's or other department stores with no more than two of them; Buy something and pay it off right away or keep a small balance because credit utilization rate is an important factor; this means keeping a 30 to 40% balance and even though it cost interest get you more points on your FICO scoreYour length of job in the same industry, you length of residency in the same place, and how you pay your bills on time will build a credit rating faster than anythingFYI I do lease-option assignments where I help the tenant buyers get mortgagesThis plan works faster than anythingGood luck

I would get a couple more quotes on liner install and you should be able to kerp the project costs 750-1,000 instead of 5,000, in my opinion.

Anybody have any tips or tricks to installing windows in a vertical plank house?

Buy a home or condominium unit in a VA approved project.Build a Home.Simultaneously purchase and improve a home.Improve a home by installing energy-related features or making energy efficient improvements.Buy a manufactured home and/or lot.My Thoughts: Condominiums – Personally, I will not buy a condominium.

Home Specs: 3/1.75 1500 sq ft, 5400 sq feet lotList price: $375,000Purchase price: $340,000ARV:$440,000 (comps verified with homes sold in 1/4 mile radius in last 30 days, not to mention a few pending listing at $460ish)Rehab: $20,000-Scope of work: -Paint int and ext-finish original hardwood floors 1200 sq ft-new windows- install 1 ext double door -landscape back and front yards -bath1: new shower pan/tile, vanity, bathroom flooring, light fixture -bath2: epoxy coat tub and add tile border, new vanity, new flooring, light fixture -3 new mirrored closet doors-1 water heater-kitchen tile-retouch white cabinets and add modern hardware-5 int doors-door hardware, hinges, electric plate coversHard Money Loan Terms: $300,000 with 3.5 points and 12% interest$40,000 cash for purchase$20,000 cash for rehab$10,500 cash for hard $ points$9,000 holding for 3 months (1.5 month rehab, 1.5 month market and sale)The largest concern is the shower pan in the bathroom caused flooding and destroyed a portion of the bathroom subfloor, I made sure to mention to my inspector that I need him to verify that there are no signs of mold under the home. 

Home Specs: 3/1.75 1500 sq ft, 5400 sq feet lotList price: $375,000Purchase price: $340,000ARV:$440,000 (comps verified with homes sold in 1/4 mile radius in last 30 days, not to mention a few pending listing at $460ish)Rehab: $20,000-Scope of work: -Paint int and ext-finish original hardwood floors 1200 sq ft-new windows- install 1 ext double door -landscape back and front yards -bath1: new shower pan/tile, vanity, bathroom flooring, light fixture -bath2: epoxy coat tub and add tile border, new vanity, new flooring, light fixture -3 new mirrored closet doors-1 water heater-kitchen tile-retouch white cabinets and add modern hardware-5 int doors-door hardware, hinges, electric plate coversHard Money Loan Terms: $300,000 with 3.5 points and 12% interest$40,000 cash for purchase$11,000 possible payout for selling agent commission$9,000 closing cost (will attempt to have seller pay closing)$10,500 cash for hard $ points$9,000 holding for 3 months (1.5 month rehab, 1.5 month market and sale)The largest concern is the shower pan in the bathroom caused flooding and destroyed a portion of the bathroom subfloor, I made sure to mention to my inspector that I need him to verify that there are no signs of mold under the home.

Well it takes a really long time to talk about negotiating with Sellers, but I basically build rapport with the seller first, I might take 15 minutes,  and then I talk about a cash offer and terms offer With Old geezers,  if The property is free of mortgages,  I tell him you can make a lot more money if youre the bank and you creates a private mortgageI tell him the banks of been making money forever and the IRS let you do thisSo whatever the ARV is I usually give them a little bit more on installment sale price and get my payment well under the monthly rents, it's all about can flowSearch Brian Gibbons installment sale and you get a lot of information on it This is only for free and clear propertiesIf there's a loan or  existing financing its a different conversation@Steve Vaughan has great insights too

Is it worth it to install separate utility systems and meters since I have to replace the current system anyway? 

Is the company installing 60-90 piers?