@Augusta Owens here's some copy & paste info you won't find in a book:)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

I’ve read quite a few posts about foreign investor financing but most seem to deal with non-citizen investors without US credit or personal tax filings.

US credit (some lenders may require 1 or 2 credit scores to qualify you).

The idea of it sitting empty caused me emotional damage. 

This also allows for property owners to more easily write-off assets that get damaged/destroyed as the value of these assets is determined as part of the study.

I'm just buying my time and making some connections while I build my credit history again - worst part about moving country haha!

I agree local banks and credit unions will be better if you're planning on growing your portfolio. 

Take the toilet out without damaging it, put a sanitary cover over waste hole, put toilet on shower floor.

Any good recommendations for the collection agency or any way to get the money back from the tenant or any way to report it to the credit bureau?

Read some other comments - I guess it is technically a cash out refi, but you're paying off a line of credit as opposed to putting the cash in your pocket which is what I typically think of when there is a 'cash out refi'.