By scrutinizing each unit type's vacancy rate, you can identify areas of opportunity.

So that's something to research if you're going to use a credit card.If you don't have, or think you can get, such a credit card because your credit isn't that good, that that would also have been an issue in the case of an unsecured loan from a bank.Keep in mind, if you apply for most residential mortgages, they are going to look back a couple of months and scrutinize your source of funds, not to mention it will also throw off your credit ratios when applying for a mortgage as they'll see the new debt and its balance and payment will count against you.A better option would be, if you think you've actually found good deals, to 1) get them under contract and sell the deal for a fee to another investor (i.e., wholesaling), or 2) come to some kind of partnership / joint venture agreement with another investor or friend/family who wants to get into RE investing like you.Both of those would be ways to make money off of real estate knowledge / hard work finding a deal, without having to have any capital of your own.

Crunch the numbers and scrutinize every entry.

I normally scrutinize the COC much more and do hope this is at least kind of a value play, but much room was given considering it will be a paid off asset in a dozen or so years and you currently have a good w-2 job!

Detailed itemization will help educate you and scrutinize competing offers.

Account ClosedWhen it comes to appraisals in Florida underwriters heavily scrutinize the comps and the valuation.

The difference is that they are conventional lending products and do not follow a FHA appraisal is sometimes or all of the of the time scrutinized.

Don't misunderstand, he didn't botch-up the job, but unless you can make invisible repairs and and lyour painting skills match that of a professional, stick to clean-up, carpet removal, maybe some demolition.I would also suggest that any bids you receive for remodeling/restoration work be carefully scrutinized, you get what you pay for!

The point being you need to heavily scrutinize an area and the investment if you're going to pay turnkey top dollar for an investment property.  

Confirmed that for myself by continuously scrutinizing listings on RedFin and Zillow - very few properties in Montomery and Fairfax counties.