My loan person said we might be able to do a escrow withholding where they keep the money for repairs until after closing. 

You could always sue the contractor, but without an insurance carrier picking up coverage you are throwing good money after bad. 

@Viral Mehta we understand that you want to save money, but investors are often penny-wise and dollar-foolish!

Meaning if someone gives you $500k and you only are using $100k, you are still going to be paying some fees on the $400k because the lender needs to keep that cash on the sidelines.You are better off getting either DSCR loans for each or hard money at 12 months and interest only with extensions but realize that money will not be cheap. 

Another route you can take is using hard/private money on a cosmetic flip using the BRRRR strategy.

If not, then don't spend the money.

*Tracking my time and the items from "Money for Tomorrow".Thank you for all and any assistance

Wholesalers will send you properties that fit your buy box, and you can work directly with them and a hard money lender to get the deal closed. 

If that's the case, at what point can you save money on the build?

You only pay on it if you withdraw the money.