I agree with with Jordan that long-term your time is probably better spent focusing on residential sales especially with your goal to own multiple rental properties one day.

I would appreciate any advice or suggestions on how this figure might be reduced or if there are any terms that could potentially be negotiated.Thank you for any assistance.

Even if you were, why would someone take these terms? 

They do talk about an SMS approach but also include mail & other resources.Jonathon has been teaching land for a long time. 

This is at the appraiser discretion if she/he thinks the repairs needed effects the value in anyway or not.

Hi Rene, the programs that I often utilize for clients are capping cash-out refinances at 75% LTV and rate/term refinances at 80% LTV.

Once you have stabilized the property and satisfied long-term loan seasoning requirements of the bank, you'll refi to the less expensive long term lender. 

I usually will say who referred me to them and say that they are a friend, neighbor, family, etc and will then ask what their lead times usually are for work to be completed, how they communicate, are they comfortable working with me being out of state, how do they collect payment (terms and preferred method) and do they offer a business rate?

Hello, I think it’s really awesome that you’re just now beginning and you are already coming to the forums to learn so the first thing you need to do is to continue to stay on the forms and you also need to be reading all of the bigger pocketbook and start listening to their podcast to soak up as much knowledge as you can and as long as you do that, you will have all the knowledge you need to start and regarding your question I do not advise to buy a single-family house just to live in it without a rental property aspect so it’s OK if you want to live in the house as well but you will have to either get a multifamily property or you could also buy a single-family home and rent out the other rooms  now see when you have a property that you use just for your family then you have to pay the mortgage every month which is building your equity, but that responsibility is solely on you whereas if it has some sort of rental property aspect, there will be other people helping you build that equity if you were to buy a property just for yourself that is something that will be taking money out of your pocket every month while as a rental property if you buy right will be putting money in your pocket every month the only exception to what I just said is if you buy a property for yourself or just for your family to live in, you could do a live-in flip to where as you’re living in the property you rehab it while your living there and if you buy right with enough knowledge, then when you turn around to sell the property, you will make profit

This approach can keep your personal and business assets separate.Review of VA Loan Terms: Before making any decisions, review the terms of your VA loan.