I consider myself lucky as I have a very good job as a Superintendent for a high rise residential builder in the Vancouver area.

What a job! 

I just spent an entire day working with individual contractors and picking up supplies, and this is getting harder to do with increasing job responsibilities and planning for a baby next year.

Wherever you're choosing to invest, connect with an agent and have them send you listings so you can get a feel for what is out there and what properties are selling for, both rehabbed and fixer-uppers.Do you have a job?

It was just my wife and I for most of it, and I don't think I'd try to do it again (doing all the work myself while working a full-time job and a part-time job) even with just the two of us.

you can borrow with unsecured promissory note.. this is quite common..

I've got excellent credit at the moment and a job with six figure income (however much lower after taxes/student loans/primary mortgage), would this help gain what I want with a lender?

@Arpan Patel  can it happen maybe will it happen for 99% of those who REALLY only have 1k in their checking account or less NO WAY NO how.. the best bet for those folks is find a job.. and if real estate is what they want to do then bird dog... or get a license and do leasing.. that works.

I am contemplating getting rid of the $200 per month as well as the yard is tiny and the only cleaning is the small common area and two single bathrooms.  

Common lighting, trash, water, heat, how is that all handled?