I tend to underestimate my existing lifelong network (non REI).For instance, my best friend from elementary school lives in a decent SFR market, and I trust this guy with my life.Bigger Pockets is a great place to network, but you are starting at 0 for every single person you meet.

You are getting close to your profit goal.Second Stage Negotiating: Now that you are at $90,000, time to make an appointment to look at the property. 

It depends on the gift, the last house the new owners really liked our barstools that we used for staging so we threw those in for them.

I'm in the beginning stages of real estate investing, so I'm more so trying to educate myself on the ways of real estate.  

I have a similar question: I reached out to a homeowner who is in the pre-foreclosure stage and he is very willing to sell me the property (of course) because he owes more than it is worth.

It's great to see someone else with franchise background :)I set up franchisees with a turn key location, the majority of them are leased units.Honestly for my first building that i'm in planning stages for right now I'm thinking it's a long term play.

Home staging companies might be willing to hire people without accredited degrees in design as well as companies that are retailers, but have people on staff who help customers with design decisions such as Pottery Barn, West Elm, CB2, etc.

At this stage (early days), my interests are Tennessee & Texas - but I'm certainly open to looking at other locations with high inventory & high demand. 

I give 3 or 4 construction draws for 100% of the estimated rehab cost, but I give them in arrears of each stage of the construction, so the borrower must also have 25 - 33% of the cost of the rehab in reserves, as well as reserves to cover carrying costs. 

I am in the research stage right now.