Exceptions are when they cannot be put in the tenants' name (I have that for a few of mine, I get the bill, and the tenants pay me that amount) or if you have two units on the same meter so you don't know how much each unit uses.

I've brokered deals across the boroughs (except Staten Island) and can confirm this - my investors have bought in the Bronx because the price point for the value makes a lot of sense. 

Everything was separated except for the water.

Carpet has never, with one exception, been able to last longer than one tenant for me.

For the ease of administration, I almost always advocate for someone to have an LLC registered in their home state (except for CA residents, unless you don't mind an extra $800/yr fee).

A lender may not attempt to influence the operations of a borrower except for the collection of amounts due.You can certainly partner, simply have XYZ Capital fund a loan to your Rehab LLC partnership and go at it, the LLC will be on the note with you as a principal.

We are self performing the entire build with exception of mechanical sub contractors

Except for contracts that specify that and violations of specific laws that allow for that for the most part people end up paying their own legal fees.

The big exceptions are windows and carpet.

If you are going for JUST cash flow the midwest is the place to be but does not have the population growth/job creation of the Southeast and Texas for the most part but there are some exceptions.