When lenders calculate your DTI and your owned properties are breaking around even or a little cash positive from rents, do they basically look at those as no debt or even positive income to keep giving you more loans?

One positive I can see is it could help some tenants boost their credit scores, while also incentivizing them a little extra to pay on time. 

It might be one of those positive sunk costs to increase the value when financing.

You could easily flip this article around to show the positives. 

Positive SolutionsProblem: In my county small multi-family houses are nearly non-existent and short-term rentals and second-cooking-areas are illegal.Solution: House-hack while renting MTR to traveling medical professionalsProblem: I didn’t know the many laws of the countySolution: A hired attorney 1) informed me that the county calls a house-hack a boardinghouse and 2) drafted a very comprehensive agreement that includes answers to your list of questions.Problem: Interpersonal problems can be a risk.

I always make sure that the properties are cash flow positive, but the large bulk of the money I make from them is from the other items (appreciation, debt paydown, tax benefits, etc). 

She is in a good position with the contractor who appears to be in direct contact with the tenants in terms of minor fixes as they arise. 

Did you use a local bank that agreed to a Seller Carry in second position?

If you find the right property, you’ll likely position yourself for long-term success, even if there’s a brief vacancy period to navigate.

Many sellers will not accept this since they are in second position, and it is very risky since if you default (higher probability for investors with no money and/or no skin in the game), they will most likely be wiped out during a foreclosure.