The mortgage payment is $1,000 on each house, so you earn $500 per house or $2,000 monthly.

I am a Canadian looking for Loan Officer and Mortgage Brokers who specialize in helping Canadians and DSCR Loans.Looking to see-1) What's the minimum down payment required?

Do you believe mortgage rate will start to decrease?

I am guessing the beach houses were usually purchased and rented with a goal of “free” family vacations being paid for (along with mortgages) by rental income.  

Like you said, you don't want to grow super fast so take your time and watch the mortgage markets.

So she's just behind in her mortgage and probably has a notice of default or whatever the procedure is in Florida.Your ability to get a loan for the home has nothing to do with her payment history on the home.  

Many of them have restrictions that you must owner-occupy the property for a minimum number of years - or you'll have to pay it back with interest.Also, the standard mortgage requires you to owner-occupy a property for a minimum of 12 months before renting it out.

Even if you are not cash flowing on day one, that's okay (in my opinion), you're not paying the full mortgage on your own, which in of itself is a huge win and you learn other tangible real estate investing skills along the way by simply owning. 

Mind you, with mortgage interest rates in the US being so much higher now (and seemingly for the foreseeable future), I wouldn't be surprised if LTRs in Europe would cash flow better than in the whole US nowadays (to be verified).This being said, I don't and would never invest in LT rentals outside of North America  as I wouldn't want to face unfavourable landlord/tenant laws as a foreigner.

I hope you or someone is at least keeping an eye on your properties for break ins, squatters, roof leaks, temperature control, frozen pipes (if in cold climate), if you have a basement and sump pump goes out leading to water damage etc.I just talked to two investors in California that have let their properties sit vacant (no mortgages so paying property taxes and insurance).