My wife and I are on the same page and really want to take our time finding a deal that works in a location that improves my commute and can pull decent rent for the one unit while we live in the other and both once we move on.We have about $15-20k liquid right now which I know isn't nearly enough.  

No way to get to legal code,,,too narrow,,, too short on headroom...Aim was to make "better" and it has,,,greatly.Been wanting to do this bucket list improvement for 35 years,,,finally had the brainstorm to design and DO it!!!

This time around , I want to improve my project management flow by having a more formal contract and estipulations as to the work quality , delivery expectation and payments.

Everything I earn in real estate goes back into improving and buying. 

Also he has an inventory of rentals that he is planning on selling off in the future.Currently he has two properties for sale that I am interested in, one a 3br/2ba for 78k and the other a 2br/1ba for 55k.  

Then you would get the most benefit from the bleed over from any improvements you make.Also make sure you are pushing rents up not down.

The best way to ensure success is to be able to have a tenant buyer use a credit improvement service that puts new positive marks on their credit.Regarding double closing on sandwiches, a truly unique way of avoiding two closings is to use a reverse assignment, where you as the investor places a 2nd mortgage in second position and reverse  assigns back to the seller, which avoids the need for transactional funding and two closings

@Hersh M.We see plenty of inventory go quickly in Texas City/surrounding areas.  

@Ned Carey, and @Dave Meadows - yeah avl has game. we saw pretty ridiculous appreciation in our neighborhood, like 30% over last 3 years. such little inventory as well. the influx of breweries and the long term development plan for the river corridor / river arts district is so promising. all we need is a surf / kayak wave (manmade whitewater feature) right in the middle of town, and we'll be on the next level!

In a small town full of dilapidated homes, my family is trying to buy property and improve the town, one house at a time.