Hello, BP!New investor here looking to start speaking with some lenders about qualifying.Wondering if anyone here would be willing to offer up any recommendations for portfolio lenders around the Twin Cities in Minnes...

If your invest will do better than your debt item go for it.  

Apparently, all of the items listed on the original scope of work need to be done and nothing can change without some authorization from the bank.

Using traditional bank financing for non-owner occupant 20% down payment for a single family and 25% for a multi is standard.

The property is non traditional in a sense that it is TINY.

I need to get a property insurance policy for the HOA to cover these items.

At the end of the day, I want to buy and hold on this property, so I'd like a way to come up with the cash and refinance ASAP to get my cash out and have a traditional rental property.  

You can still try to get the seller to pay the fee, the buyer might could roll in the fee if the loan LTV is low, or the buyer could offer a consulting fee to the broker/agent to look at specific items.

As a new investor, what are the top items that I will need, besides money of course?  

In general I'm not a big fan of partnerships, especially advertised ones or with people you don't know as @Jay Hinrichs points out.A couple problems beyond that though:  a bank will only allow the borrower on the deed traditionally.