@Herb DornJust jumping in on this last bit of the thread, so apologies if I have missed anything substantive higher up.Yes, an IRA would not allow for penalty free distributions prior to age 59 1/2 as the 457b plan does. 

They should also reimburse you for any emergency water damage repairs like carpet drying from the likes of servpro or local water clean up professionals.

The "carry trade" is sexy until it destroys your balance sheet.Short term, high value add deals that you can refi would be my strategy although in most cases  I wouldn't risk my home to do it.If you can live with a permanently higher payment then do a cash out refi and keep your powder dry for the opportunity with solid yield.If I sound like I'm speaking martian right now then don't move forward!

So the MLS is a bit dry and very competitive.

Stick to your conservative investment strategy, build up your dry powder and aggressively invest during the inevitable downturn (when that happens, I don't know...lol).

We get to make a custom curriculum for our daughter that allows her spirit and passion to shine, and I get to teach her how to think like an entrepreneur instead of letting her be taught how to become a good worker.

@Alison Fountain Faced the exact same problem - banks happy to loan to you while you have the W-2 job, but when the job ends, the loans dry up.Try taking some local bankers out for a coffee or lunch and explain your situation.

This won't be done until the ground dries. 

The seller insisted that I use his attorney as the escrow agent, which I typically don’t do, but the deal was relatively cut and dry so I was agreeable after drafting favorable escrow language.

Has anyone found that fix and flips are drying up?