are utilities available, etc....You may be WAY past these steps, in which the funding question you are asking is spot on, but I caution you to make sure you are doing your due diligence to make sure the price you pay (up front cost, financing, excavating, renovation etc. all are worth the outcome.Let me know if you have any questions, I would love to help

We can pay the contract early and get access to title earlier if we want- Property is in a very desirable area of town and I'm not worried about it getting rented. - My wife and I have very good jobs and I have no doubt we will always pay our dues to the seller, even if the property doesn't rent for 3 years- The seller (an LLC) has done multiple Contract for Deeds and has their process down.

did not pay the bills and I had to pay them twice.. 

Pay all cash?

They were notorious for not paying. 

Due to the initial condition of the home, I had to get a construction insurance policy, pay a larger amount up front in an escrow account, and insurance is pulling monthly from that escrow account.

Boots on the ground.

I define ready by having ability to lose 100% of the investment you are making and still be able to pay your bills 

I terminated the deal because the Seller had been so difficult I did not feel secure in paying the upfront prior to closing expenses.

It's a fine business model as long as you don't mind your tenants paying fees for your use of the software.