Make sure to install a good vapor barrier, and have proper ventilation and you should be ok.

IF they don't, they force you to make conservative assumptions (e.g. expenses, capex, vacancy, etc.) and you end up putting in a lower offer.Another tactic / strategy is to simply give him his price (with the proper out clauses), get the information and then re-negotiate the price.

If your goal is to generate passive returns, real estate (done properly) may not be the right vehicle. 

I have been flipping houses now for a couple years now in my local market. The first year I only flipped one house, but this year we are already at 9 and should be able to do 15 by the end of the year, so long as I ca...

I would contact an attorney that specializes in evictions or find a and handle this legally and properly.

Opinions on how I get the ARV and whether I should do a serious high-end rehab (getting rid of an office moving the bathroom to where the office was so I can expand the very cramped kitchen/ dining room so they can be two separate spaces and then finishing the two rooms upstairs which are currently wood paneling.)

We are looking to expand our market to Santa Clara county in the Bay Area, CA.

And even pre-approvals must be worded properly and followed up with the appropriate changes to the Financing Addendum so that what happened to you this time won't happen again.

Anyway, I am trying to maximize returns and run things better now that I am setup as a real business tracking everything to the penny, following proper LLC safeties, and added 4 more units, etc. 

Any legit contractor with proper experience, a decent rep,  a gc license and insurances can typically be approved.You absolutely want a Lender with plenty of 203k experience....they may give you a couple of contractor names they have approved, or not.