We know that we have to spend equal to or greater than the sales price in the new investment, and that the proceeds of multiple lots can be combined to make one purchase.  

We know that we have to spend equal to or greater than the sales price in the new investment, and that the proceeds of multiple lots can be combined to make one purchase.

We know that we have to spend equal to or greater than the sales price in the new investment, and that the proceeds of multiple lots can be combined to make one purchase.

You are still rebuilding your credit which probably means you don't have a lot of excess money to spend/lose.

Now I'm screening them out earlier and don't have to spend time showing to people I will never rent to.Thanks for the feedback. 

While $800 does not seem like a lot of money, I can think of a lot of ways I could spend $800 rather than having to pay the $800 and that is why so many people on this planet make tons of money, but they are still broke, or could have done so much better.

I would do a HELOC or a Home Equity Loan or even do something very creative like get a new credit card with a HUGE signup bonus by meeting a minimum spend requirement.

I'm not willing to spend more of my money on a business/investment that is only building equity and no cash flow. 

Take the money you are/were going to spend on college and buy something right now, why waste 4 years of valuable RE market time?

Remember a good experienced contractor will most likely have been burnt once or twice by owners so asking them to spend only their money will make some rightfully nervous.....