I usually recommend the two hour rule -- either a two hour drive or a two hour flight. 

Call the city and ask what to do or ask what people usually do.

They will usually provide 80-90% of the purchase price, providing a fair amount of equity in the deal.

This means, once the property does have enough equity, you can still refi then.2 - The loan is usually very short, so this may not work as a long term rental, but ...

When upgrading, we'll usually go with low flow toilets, lower end Delta brand faucets and paint colors that have a broad appeal.

Usually they ask for little things that are not expensive.  

And by balance I mean being realistic & compliant.It's good that you have some idea of the terms you want, but know that because of CFPB guidelines, your borrower has to show they are capable of making whatever payment/terms you set.There's lots of factors to consider when financing, so I am only going to touch on one to give you some food for thought.When I see high rates on seller financing it is usually for 1 of 2 reasons:The seller wants a higher monthly P&IThe seller plans to offload the loan to an institutional investor later and doesn't want a huge discountTo #1 I say, reduce the term/amortization of the loan.

Hairline cracks (look like spider webs) are usually nothing to worry about and should be expected.

That usually gets them moving.If it does not work, then if you have a tax certificate you must wait six months and file the ejectment lawsuit. 

That unit sat there until June 1 because I'm in MN and the only people that usually move in the winter are people who are getting kicked out of where they are.