If you hold them longer than a year you should be able to claim profits as long term capital gains which would lower the tax.

If they are looking for a pipe dream I simply work with my clients in the U.S. who do not have to overcome all of those hurdles to complete a successful transaction.Your deal size matters as well.

Also, this home has a completely finished basement with a Kitchen, Bar, and full bathroom.

@Daniel Pickford I completely agree with what @Brian Garrett said.

It's a completely different process for appraising, loan origination, and ownership structure between residential and commercial.Commercial is based off income the property produces, residential is based on comparable nearby properties.

Do not pay final portion of say 'Floor Install' until it is complete. 

@David Edwards, the only "right" way to completely separate your properties from your personal fiances is to move them into a properly established and maintained LLC and refinance the properties in the name of the LLC. 

I think those of us who are in a hot market completely understand where you are coming from. 

Assuming California is fine with a realtor paying a non-realtor a Finder's Fee, that dollar amount is completely negotiable between you and the realtor.

Once you get it down to a more reasonable amount you can then look at saving the cash you need to invest and be in a more stable situation before it is completely paid off.