My current FICO score is approx. 800, and self employed. 

The IRS sets the rules, and they are available on their website:https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employ...

You can use an LLC, no tax returns, DTI, or employment checks are required.

Some alternatives that I have considered is purchasing a single-family home, living in it for a year as a primary and then moving and renting it out, or looking for a single-family home with a decent-sized basement and converting that into a unit.

Depending on the size of the deal probably 2-5 points.

And the structure cannot be an older style with under-sized studs, beams, headers, etc. 

Also you can do a non-recourse loan in multifamily CRE 5+units however the lowest loan size I have closed with this is $500k on a very low LTV loan (like less than 20% LTV) .

There are known "aggressive breeds" that constitute a combination of size, temperament, etc. to form this list of aggressive breeds which would theoretically be more of a liability.I also settled on a pet deposit, not a pet fee or pet rent. 

Zane,First off if you plan on going SE Self-employed and starting your own company you are going to need to wait (2) years to get a conventional loan.

Purchase price averages at about 75-110k around 15k in rehab and an ARV of 120k++ depending on location, size, level of rehab etc. etc.