I’ve bought some houses with 0% interest for a year credit card loans.

The downside is they usually come with higher interest rates and shorter loan terms.Partnerships or Co-signers: If your husband or a trusted partner has U.S. legal status and credit history, they might be able to co-sign or help with financing.Cash Purchases: Since you have savings in Canada, you might consider using that for your first property, especially for a smaller rehab project.Foreign National Loans: Some lenders specialize in providing loans for foreign nationals.

Verifying last 2 years of rental history very important!

Some of these renters are capitalizing on low interest rates and choosing to buy, but many are unable to buy due to lack of down payment or credit factors. 

Wife and I both have an 800 credit score and plenty of income with a 19% DTI ratio. 2) Do you recommend that as a first timer I actually do go with a higher down payment product as I learn?

I have found the JLDs to be mostly from credit card companies and banks, but I am still unsure if that's what I am suppose to be looking for or not.

Due to past poor management of the environmental infrastructure, the river has become illegal to swim in in certain parts, and after rain falls the entire river is off limits to swim or fish in due to the heavy amounts of pollution ending up there that the city has not had the infrastructure to deal with in the past.But this all began to change in 2017, when the Virginia General Assembly passed the largest infrastructure project in Alexandria's history to make the Potomac River swimmable, and fishable by the year 2040, and they have made significant progress recently with the completion of the 2 mile long, 100-foot deep Waterfront Tunnel named Hazel.Named after environmental activist Hazel Johnson, the Hazel Waterfront Tunnel will prevent millions of gallons of combined sewage from polluting the region's waterways.

Verifying last 2 years of rental history very important!

I believe up to close to 40% down with a 720 or greater credit score on a conventional loan product could give you the best interest rate. 

Focus on keeping upfront costs down and shop around for lower interest rates or lender credits.