Also, if you have the ability to do a couple of deals on your own, without outside financing, that will go a long way toward getting you the most favorable terms...just proving a bit of a track record.5)  70% is a guideline and really is determined by what your costs are, and you need to be sure you are covering ALL of your costs...commissions, taxes, holding, reno, etc. 

.- Insurance - With my flips I plan to do most the work myself and contract out any bigger jobs outside my abilities or that require a permit.

Depends on the contractor...I have some very good subcontractors whose first language is clearly not English (And before you go assuming anything, for some of them it isn't Spanish either.) ... for them I have some mercy on their language abilities if they seem otherwise capable.If the first language IS English, and the grasp is not good, I get a bit concerned.

We love pex, and from what I understand it can freeze but won't break- it has the ability to expand up to 3x in size which will accommodate the ice.  

Finding an RMLO is NOT easy that will sign off on proving the "ability to repay" but they're out there.

I'd look at the ability to ask questions and what kind of personal attention there may be.

What is appropriate is a properly constructed package built on a solid commercial policy form with the ability to offer appropriate coverage for assets under any stage of occupancy or renovation, a simple monthly reporting format with no minimum earned premiums, the ability to waive co-insurance requirements, with no location limits, with the ability to insure multiple controlling entities, offer coverage in all 50 states, special form coverage with theft and vandalism and the ability to actually reduce premiums incrementally by aggregating locations, just to name a few little things.Hope this helps.

See http://www.generalrealestateacademy.com/Learn the ATR Rules - http://www.consumerfinance.gov/regulations/ability...It does piss me off there is not more guidance for investors from the cfpb.com about selling on terms for home owners and what type of transaction needs a rmlo and what type of transaction does not.

the way I have gotten a new start in REI is to leverage my (decent) writing ability to help my partner find new investors online.

My first thought was all that knowledge and mental ability yet most of those I met had actually accomplished very little in their lives, the highest IQ there had been a night time janitor for 30 years and didn't apparently spend any of that time trying to solve some problem of some kind, definitely not an Einstein, they seemed happy though.