Would be great to meet up again, and even if we have to pay a couple bucks for some pancakes, I'm down to keep the tradition alive.Email me details.

Refinancing generally takes a full year on the tax return to accomplish, so I use some creativity to bring that money back in in less than the 18-24 months a traditional refi. will take.

So are the banks starting to adjust or are people combining non-traditional and traditional financing for their Projects???

It’s traditionally a ‘start over’ time; whether that be rinse and repeat your victories, or taking the opportunity for big change.

I could have use Traditional IRA funds too (had about the same amount to roll over in each kind).

If you have a $100k house and do $$30k of improvements, that doesn't necessarily mean the house is now worth $130k.Many traditional homeowners spend money on their house, but add less value than the cost of improvements (e.g. adding a sauna, building a pool,...)

Traditional accounting would say "an asset", but a thoughtful investor would say "a liability unless it generates income".

Law suits are on the same level as buying lottery tickets in the US.

I think the best you can hope for is breaking even on a retail house with a traditional mortgage. 

Still would be interested one day, but at current, focusing investing in other "traditional" methods.