Start by getting familiar with your local market.

One of the key challenges I’m facing is understanding the financing options available to someone without Canadian residency or a local credit history.From my research, it seems that a 35% down payment is often required, with interest rates around 7.5-8.5% for non-residents.

@Grant Shipman Great stuff, I'm a big fan of co-living/rent by room strategy, and I do it here locally in Denver metro, and it is the best strategy in today's market for any house hacker to live for free or make money while living there, but they have to sacrifice personal space.

Find them at local real estate meetups, but be careful, it's a sketchy business overall.

My guess is that the institutional big banks would have a problem with it, while the smaller local banks and non-bank lenders probably wouldn't care as much. 

I’m also an active member of the local landlord association in Joliet (JRLA), which has been a great resource for networking and education.

My suggestions:* Requiring code compliance and safety equipment is absolutely valid and should be part of the regulations* Requiring owners live within 15 miles is not necessary since poor hosts whether they're local or distant will violate the 3-5 warning system and earn a suspension.

Also, you could also hang out at some local ice rinks where people take their kids to hockey practice!

After checking the local housing authority the SAFMR though the zipcode maximum is $1300.

@Robert Spiegel Great question, and it’s always a balancing act when dealing with long-term tenants who’ve been fantastic overall.Based on my experience managing over 1,200 rental homes in North Texas, including areas like Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, and Frisco, here’s how I would approach this:Cleaning Charge: While $540 may feel steep, it can vary depending on the size of the property and local market rates.