You can generally go up to 75% LTV on these products so long as the anticipated PITI is 1:1 with the gross rent.

Quote from @Jacob Sherman: What type of loan products are you in the market for ?  

Obviously there’s a number of things that can go wrong, I’m just curious if you find the documents less effective than one from an experienced lawyer but you are willing to accept less quality for a cheaper product or if you actually find them more effective in the first place.

Not to say that you'd pick crappy materials, but contractors with experience have manufacturers and suppliers that they know guarantee their products and that helps them know they can stand behind their work. 

 @Jordan Laney Asking what others pay for snow removal and comparing your yearly spend to past years is not productive.

Reason being is that it allows you to invest in other products other than they offer, so that's why they don't promote these . 

Two, you'll have a much easier time obtaining a mortgage product if you have a track record of W2 income.In the meantime, continue implementing the strategies you mentioned: save religiously, build your credit, pay any existing debt owed, etc.

The proformas are utter nonsense because they know the product is no longer a viable investment.

The truth is, over the last few years, many of these people are barely cashflowing at all and the default rate with the banks on this product is skyrocketing.

Never should you be paying 2.5 points on an FHA product.