Probably the best thing I have found is I am a member of an investor group on Houston that has a vendor list and I try and obtain vendors from this list as feedback is posted online by other members upon completion of the work.

We won the bid at $54,000, secured with earnest money, obtained a 30yr conventional loan at 5%interest with 20% down.  

However, I have found that commercial loans are actually easier to obtain than regular residential loans.

My fiancé & I are getting into the investment part of real estate/ flipping (I'm a realtor) & are researching our options for obtaining funds.

It is a bit of a non traditional situation, which may result in me obtaining an expensive education.  

This is key since it removes most if not at least 80% of the risk immediately.Cost of obtaining + UPB of the first must be less then BPO or what you find on Zillow.So considering those first two, if we believe we have an property in an area that will rise in price and/or foreclosing will result in a positive outcome. 

You may be able to obtain a condition where the sale is dependent on your being able to make a successful cash-for-keys offer.

I have obtained estimates from other contractors and a few have indicated that the waterproofing is not necessary and most likely an "Up-charge". 

I have a mortgage in Canada coming up for renewal next year on a property in Vancouver, can always hope it stays around that level :) ... when I got it, I thought the 2.99% rate I obtained then was bound to the best I'd ever see...never imagined I'd see a day where you can get a 2.6 fixed!

How to obtain finance and structure deals from start to finish.