Alternatives to hard money for Fix and Flips?

Your choice is to lose money from this unit, or pay for a better fix. 

Not sure if that is the reason for what you're seeing but then again, Redfin wouldn't be my choice to get that data.

Once you have a track record and a relationship, hopefully with a portfolio lender, alternatives may be possible.

Being it’s your first deal, I would personally take advantage of the leverage here and go with a low down payment, but the choice is yours.

I would recommend a triple net lease (NNN) where the tenant is responsible for paying additional fees - the property tax, all maintenance (including or excluding the roof - (your choice) and insurance on the property.

Beyond the first few properties, I would like to invest more aggressively in larger properties and alternative financing.I have been researching real estate for the past 2 years and feel like it is finally time to put my plans into action.

But if there is a way that I can't put all my eggs in one basket with a market that has not a very good reputation with forums and sites that ranks Cleveland as a city of last choice, why not ask for opinions of people who know their markets well, their advantages and disadvantages?

I would NOT provide a lawnmower, even though it came free - since this creates a liability for you.I would give the tenant a choice:  (a)  they are responsible for their own lawn care / snow removal, or (b) the landlord will take on that responsibility with an additional monthly charge of X. 

My alternative strategy would be to buy and hold a property in an up and coming city/neighborhood and live on the property for a few years.