Each funding route (401k, HELOC, conventional) has trade-offs, so running side-by-side numbers will help clarify which fits your budget and risk tolerance.

Before you buy anything you need to spend a ton of time before offering and during your inspection period figuring out all your expenses, deferred maintenance, and future maintenance items as best as you can.

If your budget is $250k that will barely be enough to build one of the homes (in my area it wouldn't be enough).

I’d recommend automating those first, even if you start small, then refine the percentages as you get historical data.It’s less about the exact system and more about removing temptation to spend what should be reserved.

If you're trying to maximize cashflow you'd better plan to spend six figures on theming and be creative with it.If you want you can give me a call and I'm happy to share my numbers on utilities etc. 

Check days on market and make sure there is room in the budget for holding costs and commissions if you are flipping and include about 10% contingency.

So this leaves me to believe that spending more on high(er)-end beds / mattresses is a waste.

I think we over paid slightly and we went over budget on our renovation.

Average rents top out around $1500 or so and if you try to push too much over that you are competing for renters with the builders who are putting up houses that your tenant might just decide to buy and spend the same amount or less per month in rent.  

Of they call city and the police, you will spend a lot of time managing that situation.These criteria are mostly same for SFH.