I also think many of the call center people they employ are not even in the US.

Not to mention, more HOA and possible gov't regulations on short-term rentals.With that in mind, as long as you pick an area that caters well to long- and mid-term (and possible short-term) rentals you'll have multiple exit strategies to employ.

If the application is incomplete or the applicant doesn’t meet my criteria, or if I  can’t verify their employment and speak to their references, the applicant is denied. 

If you have an 805 and low DTI, assuming you can also qualify with employment history and income....check out a conventional cash out instead and compare. 

My parents were self employed their entire lives.

Employing this approach, the fund I previously worked for achieved a 4.93 rating.

I always engage qualified legal and accounting professionals prior to transacting in new spaces or employing new strategies.

Have you considered self-directed IRA option for retirement accounts not with your current employer?

For one property, we had over over 10 fraudulent applicants, another time, we had 3 different applicants with the same fake employment as if they received their documents from the same vendor. 

I can guide you step-by-step through finding properties, getting them under contract, securing financing, hiring a contractor, and getting them back on the market, or even employing the BRRR strategy (Buy, Rehab, Refinance, Rent) without charging you a dime for this invaluable knowledge.