The bank isn't going to let you blow their money.

The last real estate investor/developer I worked with had a long standing relationship with one of the big box stores, and the savings we got off of the retail price would blow your mind.

There role is to be your advocate through the process and ensure your contractor is offering sound bids and providing good work.Now, it doesn't always work out that way, but generally, incentives are appropriately aligned and most 203k consultants do a great job.

Even if both people work in regular jobs losing one can be a massive blow, let alone if one is running a large real estate enterprise.I hope this helps. 

They can be an annoyance when used shoddily, or a boon when used masterfully.Go, grow, and blow their minds!

Devil's advocate, you might want to run the numbers factoring in costs for a property manager. 

If you need the money for a down payment, then you probably shouldn't be looking to purchase just yet, as you will want to make sure you have enough reserves in case something happens...like your car blows up and you need money for a new one or the tenants decide they don't want to pay their new landlord the rent anymore. lol BUT now on the other hand...you're rehabbing another property right?

Before you blow me off as a nut case, I've discovered that the largest 'wholesaler', by far, in the Raleigh area is Opendoor.

The problem is that when I look at most advice here, they advocate cash flows of $100-200/door, and for 4-6 beds in Boston $1200/mo cash flow would be great for a 6 bed, but that's basically the same as my current condo, with 3 times as many people (and x2 the units) to worry about...I guess that could be looked at as a hedge against vacancy, but what I'm getting at is:My current property seems like a cash cow, but might cost me a bit in the future.

However, my other one that has two bedrooms and a loft but sleep nine blow the rest out of the water.