So my loan officer may direct me to not disclose those properties while applying for the refinance.  

It might not even apply to you - just another issue in a somewhat gray area of real estate law.But remember- if a buyer buys the home in a double closing - no issues whatsoever - anywhere. 

Over the years, I’ve learned a ton, and now I’m applying that experience to my Real Estate practice.

Bonus rule:  this applies to any investment or business that even HINTS at being a scam, below board, or ethically questionable - If you don’t know who the “sucker” is, it’s YOU. 

When I emailed they just said to apply first, in end of February or in march I plan to go try and talk to someone to see if I can get better advice.

I’d love to hear more about your goals and how you’re planning to apply your expertise to real estate!

Take my advice with a grain of salt...But a couple of back of the napkin numbers (primarily residential but I suspect it applies to commercial)Real estate (unleveraged) without value add will average rents + inflation (in appreciation).   

Some options that might be viable for you include: Private Lenders – Such investors usually offer short-term lending but provide greater flexibility compared to a traditional hard money lender.Lines of Credit – Another alternative could be an excellent option to finance several deals at once using a business line of credit or HELOC (if it applies).

Typically 75% of rental income can be applied towards your DTI for qualification. 

Also, does this apply to an owner who owns and manages their own portfolio?