Imagine having your mortgage paid for and how much extra income that would provide to purchase more properties...just another tool for the tool box on raising capital and being creative.

You spent a lot of money on the fix ups, and I would really like to know what kind of profit you get on this.  

@Robert Boyd  in the upper right hand corner is a shaded in box that says vote. 

If you are that concerned you could have your mailing address be a PO box and your physical address be the FHA house and then have the mail to that house go to your PO box. 

Like has been said, you should pay them for the bid if they don't have much chance of getting the work.The costs vary by area, but there should be pretty standard rates for painting per sq/ft, hanging Sheetrock per board, carpet per yard, hanging cabinets by box, etc.

, take out tile/replace with hardwood, countertop, open wall to living room (Just a window, not a wall demo as its load bearing), and new (or used) oven New interior doors Bath: Tile, vanity, countertop, toilet, reglaze tub Light fixtures, vents, plugs, switches Staging Potential updated electrical box (currently in good working condition) NEW LARGE window in living roomInvestment180K current20K rehab20K & closing costs realtor fees220K CostThere appears to be a possible 20K gain on my primary residence, this would free up approx. 30 – 50K cash to be used to jumpstart my real estate investing career.I have not gotten quotes on the repairs yet, this is what scares me.If repairs end up costing 40K, it could eliminate the entire gain and I would be better selling now to pull the cash out.Please provide any and all thoughts/advice you may have regarding starting my real estate career.Thank you in advance for your response!

Always increase the size of your "box".2 - Build a Power Team.  

@Frank Acquafreda Nice to see you thinking outside of the box of going outside of your market.

If this was Starbucks TI would be expected but that type of national tenant you expect they will be there the full lease term to recover TI's spent with the rent paybacks.A small cafe you are basically buying yourself a job.

Get a lock box on the home if it's vacant.The other big hurdle I've found is the rehab estimate is way too low, which kills the deal as well.