After stumbling over the questions in the paperwork for two days I called the loan officer and he cleared up a couple things for me: No pre-qual letter will be provided up frontA subject property is needed with all the figures filled in for underwriting to analyze the deal (community bank - committee meets once a month) And there is a lengthy lead time (30-60 days) for review before funds will be distributed My reply to these conditions were:How do I obtain the rent roll and other financials with no pre-qual or proof of financingHow can I prove/show the owner I am serious without it The loan officer mentioned, I would have to be convincing and/or suggest a lease/buy option with the seller.

I was approached by a neighbor who claims to be on the HOA committee and told me they only allow 8% of the units to be rentals and the previous owners owner-occupied the home.

The CRE guys typically have more lending authority and you may not have to go through loan committee if you're talking to the right guys/gals.I am a reformed CRE investor leveraging my long time relationships so YMMV but the underlying principles should apply.  

The tenant will do preliminary on the site and then a committee might come down for a tour to look at further.

Sometimes the bank committee members are developers themselves or real estate investors themselves which helps as they understand the business in depth.Make sure with the construction loan you have built in extensions spelled out with what rate and also you have the freedom to choose what permanent loan you want to go with or have the right to sell.Some banks will give  a great construction loan but when it converts to perm the terms are bad or marginal at best.

Sometimes the grievance committees take them seriously sometimes not, it is hard to say. 

I had to dig into the committee report. 

Chair of Sustainability and Renter's committee is socialist whose goal is to abolish private property.

That bill never made it out of committee. 

If you are in WA,   please make a comment for the committee and write your legislators.