Staff often seemed to focus on one requirement at a time, and only moving on to others as each was taken care of, instead of starting them all at the same time.

Is that amount worth risking at this time potentially having to pay from your primary residence?

Then there are the challenges with Section 8 tenants paying utilities and taking care of their rental property.

Owner shouldn't care about your DTI.

@Tove Fox - Residential Real Estate InvestingPros:Lower Entry Costs: Easier to get started with less capital required.High Demand: People always need homes, making demand relatively stable.Easier Financing: Mortgages are generally easier to secure with favorable terms.Simplicity: Easier to understand and manage, especially for beginners.Flexibility: You can use it as a personal residence or rent it out.Cons:Tenant Turnover: More frequent turnover leads to vacancy and more management.Lower Cash Flow: Income potential can be modest compared to commercial properties.Emotional Buyers: Residential prices can be influenced by emotions, leading to price volatility.Maintenance Burden: Landlords often deal with repairs and maintenance, which can be time-consuming.Commercial Real Estate InvestingPros:Higher Income Potential: Stronger cash flow and higher returns are common.Long-Term Leases: Tenants often sign longer leases (3-10 years), reducing vacancy risk.Professional Tenants: Business tenants tend to take better care of the property.Valuation Based on Income: Prices are based on the income the property generates, not market emotions.Shared Costs: Tenants often cover property expenses like taxes, insurance, and maintenance (via triple-net leases).Cons:High Entry Costs: Requires more capital or partnerships to get started.Complex Management: More expertise is needed; you may need a professional property manager.Economic Sensitivity: Commercial properties are more sensitive to economic conditions.Challenging Financing: Securing financing can be harder, with stricter terms and higher interest rates.Zoning and Legalities: More complex regulations compared to residential properties.Key Differences:Risk: Residential tends to be lower risk, while commercial offers higher rewards but with greater risk.Management: Residential is easier for DIY investors, while commercial properties usually require a team.Scalability: Commercial properties are easier to scale, offering more potential for significant cash flow increases.

Save...it takes a lot more money than most new investors believe (don't drink the Kool-aid that you can get in cheap) and residing outside the US will be seen as a substantial risk to most lenders which will limit your financing options. 

In Phoenix, where I’m based, or in markets like San Antonio, the best realtors do more than just list properties.. they go “driving for dollars” to find oppurtunity, leverage their local networks (probate attorneys, CPAs, divorce attorneys) and carefully analyze each property’s cash flow.

However, since you put the asset into an LLC, I am going assume you care about asset protection and further this discussion just a bit.My advice to you is to seek out local banks where much of their business is derived from commercial lending.

Owner financing and HELOC on personal residence How did you add value to the deal?

This is one of the things that @Matthew Irish-Jones mentioned above - be careful about putting #3 on his list above #1 and #2.