The secret is the paperwork and a contractor who has the financial means of carrying your project.

The first and foremost method to mitigate these exposures is to carry adequate liability coverage.

Dig -- Kindles are very packable, so great for trips and carrying around in your bag.

You are the beginning of the process of that decrepit house become a family's home again.As far as the gun goes-get a concealed carry permit and bring your own. 

Thanks Carrie.

Where can I learn more about how to handle losses at tax time, and get a better understanding of passive losses, carrying losses forward, etc.?

They'd rather do it alone verse carry someone and share profits.

Originally posted by @Carrie Hiner:Can you get another quote from a different Insurance Company?

Most states allow the borrower to make the choice to impound the tax and insurance or to waive escrows/impounds but usually you have to have 20% or more down payment.In CA the min is 10% down for the borrower to decide to impound T&I's or not (it cost more to waive impounds, about .40 points cost).Most other states require 20% down or more to waive them.Yes if you waive them you bring in less "cash," to close however its important to distinguish that these prepaids are just funds being stored on your behalf and are not "closing costs," in technicality but are required to be brought into closing to consummate the loan or transaction.Also the reason seller financing is less closing costs is because there is no lender, processing, underwriting, doc fee, credit report, etc.However, with a seller financed transaction you still have lender title insurance (I hope you have this), and the attorney/escrow fee, along with recording, notary probably,  exise and transfer tax (depending on which county or state you're in), prepaid interest on the seller carried note unless you negotiated the start date of your note at a future time or got some forbearance/deferment period.

If they combine the final sale with a seller carry back note, they can spread the tax over a period of time.