Are you trying to use a conventional loan to be more competitive in the market? 

I am a newbie to real estate and am looking to gain knowledge on the industry.

Who are the best real estate mentors in the industry and what have been your experiences with mentors? 

I feel id be better served to arm myself with the best chance for success by beginning with first educating myself on the basic's of the industry's vocabulary / basic strategy's through reading a few books.

@Jose Bordes funding renovation in arrears (reimbursed) is 100% industry standard.

Obviously that makes me the opposite of a competitive buyer.

We have had to build out spreadsheets this past year to keep track of offers on a lot of our listings here in the Chicago area due to the competitive nature of things and the sheer volume.

Ultimately, as long as you are following the expert guidance of your CPA (who is an expert in your specific industry) and doing what best serves your needs to fulfill your vision of what you want your business to be for YOU, I would argue you are in a great place in the bookkeeping/tax realm.

Competition would be high in the popular cities but so would the appreciation and rental demand.

Sadly the industrial plants along the Tn.