If you need to cut the project costs, you can easily figure your options.

If he closes just one deal he could easily net $5,000 or more on that one deal, and gain a ton of experience along the way. 

Because we do not want to end up out there for too long, we thought about purchasing a multiplex (two-four units), so it could easily roll into a cash flowing investment property, and could help us to get into a home for our family in the market we want to be in. 

Could probably get by pretty easily with space heaters, window/portable/ductless heat pumps, or a thick blanket.

Yes, I totally agree and realize that you are extremely passionate about what you do, coupled with the fact that you are amazed at how easily investors can throw away their hard earned money without proper due diligence.I am an out of State investor myself and always use the due diligence period to determine if I want to spend money on the property in question. 

Short story, what you listed sounds easily like a $30K rehab and it may be a lot more.  

This site can be easily searched.

I am kind of fastidious and so I find hardwood to show dog hair very easily.

I easily re-rented the vacant unit immediately for the 1st, without having to show it with them in the process of moving out.  

@Chris Adams   Build out on this will be 12 to 16 months.. we will sell 2 to 3 a month.. ( according to the 5k bank MAI appraisal :)  )  But we should easily hit that metric.