Simply view the preparatory time as part of your investment in your future. 95% of the indivulaes in your position fail because they view real estate investing as a way to go from zero to success....this is not realistic, you need cash and a solid income if you hope to increase your odds of success.

If it looks at all odd, I would ask for a vacant unit, but keep in mind he does have the rights of other tenants and it may be 60 days to get him out depending on your local laws.

What are the odds of a newbie with no flips under his belt getting points rolled into the loan? 

I’ve had a few rentals over the last couple of years and just recently started taking this REI journey more seriously through education, diving into BP, and getting involved with some local investing clubs.I’m currently finishing up a big renovation and cash out refi to reinvest elsewhere.

Understand the fees involved and calculate the total cost for an entire year of management so you can compare the different managers.

These are great people to involve as financial partners or private lenders.

This seems odd to me because in a perfect scenario you would get a HML to fund 100% of your deal with no money out of your pocket, rehab the house while paying your monthly interest payments to the HML, refi a few months later to pay them off but also cashing out and getting a nice chunk of cash?

If the house needs work, or even if the systems are aging, I add this to my initial purchase price for the calculation, plus a contractor's price margin for the hassle involved. 

I think wholesaling would be a great way for me to enter the real estate scene; a subject I'd love to become involved and invested in.Ive read that having a real estate license can be an advantage in wholesaling, as it gives you access to the MLS with the ability to comp properties.

As to why you would be charged a higher rate for a smaller loan amount seems odd to me?