Single Mom w/ Low Income Looking for Rental Properties

[Ellen Campbell]

Hello BP community! My name is Ellen and I'm a real estate agent. I am newly separated from my partner and starting out in real estate investing as a single mom with low 1099 income and few assets. I have identified a few multi-family rental properties that I could owner-occupy in order to use the lowest down payment as possible (3%) and generate positive cash flow. I have zero retirement savings and am eager to start building a passive-income portfolio so I am not a burden to my child.

One of my biggest hurdles is that I need to boost my income so that in the bank's eyes I can afford the mortgage payment BEFORE collecting any rent. The other hurdle is a putting down a bigger down payment, which I can't currently afford. 

I have looked into DoorDash as a way to boost my income so that I retain flexibility in order to continue to be present for my child. I have also looked into borrowing for a down payment whether its from a personal loan, hard money lender, family, credit card cash advances, etc.

Are there any recommended tips, products, BP webinars/podcasts that address this kind of situation? Are there any other single income households that have overcome these hurdles?