Those banks tend to do appraisals using internal metrics which are far more conservative to balance. your estimation of payments is correct I think.

Financing is just one component of underwriting a deal.

I'll forward it to my acquisitions team leader - Maybe, if we can create a win-win, you can intern with my company. 

There are self rental rules in the Internal Revenue Code to prevent this. 

While I was also going to get a CPA to help me with this, would I benefit from the, "Tax Strategies for the Savvy Real Estate Investor" book when I am looking at international properties or is it geared towards only domestic properties?

But the best way to get this as high as possible is to at least update something in all the major components of the house

I admire your determination to learn these things - depreciation, international treaties etc. - but it is far more difficult than you probably expect.PS.

Then look for something that you can buy for lower than the market but rent at or above the market.Also find out what a typical rehab would cost you and break it down by major components (flooring, roof, plumbing, painting, etc). 

While GRM is a good metric to give you an idea of your internal value, these properties don't trade based on it. 

They are easily the most critical component of the equation.