He's bought over a dozen single family properties over the years (for vacation homes mostly) and he said every single time he just called the listing agent directly and got it done.I know most people generally frown upon this because the buyer agent is supposed to help get a better price, negotiate based on issues w/the house, etc.

Happy to touch base separately if I can answer any followup questions.PS @Jonathan Bock - Absolutely stoked for the March release!

Since you're based in Los Angeles and looking for more budget-friendly markets, you might want to consider states like Arizona, Nevada, Texas, or the Midwest, which generally boast lower property values.

Is it worth getting another appraisal to potentially have lender remove PMI based on renovations?

Loan is based on average rents in the area on the appraisal rental analysis.

HM is great because they can fund 90% of the purchase price and 100% of the rehab on a draw schedule. 

Based on this information, I highly recommend this applicant for your rental."

I know it's a pretty wild cast, would like to hear from the local experts to help narrow down to specific zones/cities based on the current trends and experience/occupancy.   

If you had a turnkey apartment building with 5+ units the value is based on the income not comparable sales.

As for paying with certified check, in most counties you only need to pay a deposit; the sheriff should have rules that set the amount of the deposit to be a percentage of the winning bid or a fixed minimum amount, whichever is greater.You determine your maximum bid, and then get checks sufficient to pay that deposit amount based on your maximum bid.