As for lenders, look for local banks or credit unions that understand the value-add you’re creating in each property.

What documents do they require, what credit scores do they allow, how do they verify previous rental history, etc.?

You don’t need necessarily need to build credit.

YUP minimum requirements.. although you would be surprised how many folks cannot get a bond because they lack credit score.. this will weed out the really poor players and give state a vehicle to regualted those that violate the laws without all the grey area currently.

They have told me that assuming credit, debt, etc check out fine that I will have enough equity in the land to make the downpayment for the cabin that I want. 

I'd love to have a small line of credit on the property before the end of the year to cover any other repairs or upgrades that will need to go into the property.

Perhaps slightly higher from an alternative lender but definitely not from a credit union and expect much higher fees.

What documents do they require, what credit scores do they allow, how do they verify previous rental history, etc.?

Either way its good to buy end of year as most builders and sellers are offering seller credits or builder credits to use towards closing costs or to buy a rate down to help get a lower payment.Even if you wanted to buy a strater home like a 2-4 unit as a primary again you only need to put 5% down. 

From a credit perspective, house hacking also helps you build strong cash flow, which can make it easier to secure financing for future deals.Additionally, if you're targeting high-appreciation markets, you could also look into cash-out refinancing down the line to pull equity and fund additional investments.