There are also ways around it to use your lease agreement if you are aware that you're getting above market rent.

Yeah I get where your coming from, I think we would wave the $5 on our end to make it 12.99 for the tenants. 

It's not a big issue but just be aware that it can take a few days to get your contractor paid. 

It tends to get me results much faster than I receive results from the searches I have set up.

They always get contacted by investors looking for deals and a realtor can help the entire process be more trustworthy and smoother than some random person on FB.I myself am a realtor here in Houston with a buyers list I have developed over my last five years of being in the investment real estate space.

Taking that money out and anything that leads to more people using the equity from their homes and reduces the friction to that process is not good in the long run.As a NPL buyer who buys 1st position mortgages, we do watch stuff like this carefully as the moment these borrowers get high CLTV's any drop in pricing and change in economic conditions will lead to more foreclosures versus bankruptcies.

As mentioned one of the top is being able to get a new construction investment property and own it for the best years of the properties life.  

Or... better yet... get a license and represent them as a seller's agent. 

Get a lawyer to look over the docs?

If you are interested, and have any other clients (current or future) that need an builder, send me a message and we can get in touch