HML lenders want to see a clear path to profit, so ensure your ARV and rehab estimates are solid.For next steps, definitely prioritize a detailed inspection to confirm HVAC and interior needs.

Everyone is so against the bully breed when it is DEFINITELY the owner NOT the breed.  

@Cathy Svercl you're looking to take the path of least resistance, which also saves you money?

Renting it out while strategically leveraging the equity could be the best path forward.As @Jaycee Greene said, DSCR looks at your credit rather than DTI.

Most hard money lenders will want to know about your track record - if you have no experience, partnering with someone who has a track record will likely be an easier path to approval (and likely higher leverage) than applying by yourself. 

Flipping and investing in real estate is an exciting path, especially with your husband’s expertise as a contractor—it’s a great advantage. 

One of them has a clear path to return a profit and is executing that plan well. 

Brandon Turner's Rental Property Investing book is an excellent primer to understanding the happy path for purchasing a property - however in this market it really comes down to having bulletproof assumptions on rents/taxes/R&M/etc. as with rates as high as they are/inventory as low as it is, there is less cushion in your returns if you analyze properties with bad assumptions.

JC’s lenient approach is definitely a draw for investors looking to avoid the red tape that’s becoming more common in larger cities.

I have always wanted to own rental properties and do some flip projects but just never started the path.