Sounds like that although FHA will allow the 3.5% down, the bank's standard is a little higher so that they're loan portfolio is higher quality/lower risk loans.

@Josh Norris It sounds like you want a cost breakdown so you can assure the contractors are using quality materials.

This looks outstanding!

Paul/Minneapolis area have a referral for a chep, quality granite countertop company?

Ive been successful with using Craigslist, Postlets (they list on several different websites- Trulia, ZIllow, etc), Rentals.com Craigslist gets me the most responses, Id say in general the quality of responses is higher from the others tho.

Does anyone have any "statistics" (doesn't have to be audited) on the call rate and quality generated from 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. mailings to the same list?

Share Better (http://www.sharebetter.org/) is spending $3 million on a campaign (in a format similar to AirBnB's marketing campaign) that highlights illegal conversions and evictions, as well as quality of life issues for residents living near short-term rental units.

Many lenders set their opening bids at the outstanding loan balance, even if that amount is more than the property is worth.

As important as the money is, I also want to invest in an area I know will grow and do well for a long time and has good quality tenants.

Well,  never heard of them but the quality of their site is poor at best and looking at the homes for rent, they look super low income which translates to = long-term failure to whomever owns these homes.