Interest always paid on time, and principal was returned with bonus right on schedule.

It's crucial to evaluate how the deal performs with the new mortgage:Updated Financials After Refinancing: Market Value: $459,000 Mortgage Amount (80% LTV): $367,200 Equity: $91,800 Interest Rate: 5% (30-Year Amortization) Assuming after 12months the rate will drop to 5%Monthly Expenses: Mortgage Payment (5% Interest): $1,971 (Now you are paying interest and principals) Property Tax: $260 (assuming has been increased with a 4% from last year) Utilities: $361 Insurance: $104 (+4% Adjustment) Vacancy: $166 (now after 12 months we can assume we have some vacancy at 5% factor on annual rent) Repairs & Maintenance: $166 (now after 12 months we can assume we have repairs at 5% factor on annual rent) Total Monthly Expenses: $3,028Rent Income after 12 months assuming annual rent increase at 5% : $3,323Cash Flow: $295$ per month 😊Long-Term Gains: $5,418 Principal Paydown year 2 (this will increase each as you pay off your mortgage $36,720 Property Appreciation (assuming 8% per year) $3,540 Cash Flow (this will increase as rents rise)Total Annual Return on Investment: $45,678 with just $ $22,789 remaining in the deal.

I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23If a purchase, you also generally need reserves / savings to show you have 3-6 month payments of PITIA (principal / interest (mortgage payment), property taxes and insurance and HOA (if applicable).

I've included an example below to help illustrate this.So different lenders have different rates (which do vary even for DSCR loans) but these are factors they all consider.See example below:DSCR < 1Principal + Interest = $1,700Taxes = $350, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $50Total PITIA = $2200Rent = $2000DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2000/2200 = 0.91Since the DSCR is 0.91, we know the expenses are greater than the income of the property.DSCR >1Principal + Interest = $1,500Taxes = $250, Insurance = $100, Association Dues = $25Total PITIA = $1875 Rent = $2300DSCR = Rent/PITIA = 2300/1875 = 1.23If a purchase, you also generally need reserves / savings to show you have 3-6 month payments of PITIA (principal / interest (mortgage payment), property taxes and insurance and HOA (if applicable).

The lender has requested a 10% pay down on drawn funds (towards principal) at the time of extension.

exactly Chris Clothier made a good point on another thread where his opinion is any cash flow first should go into reserves once reserves is in a good spot the remaining cash flow should go to principal paydown.. 

Where the title company is also the escrow company and Attornies do not do closings generally speaking on low end SFR type deals.If your buying multi million dollar commercial many times buyers will engage an attorney in those I just closed on last month like that I was a principal  and my wife was the Broker.

A simple source document review correlating the company's bank records of money in, investor principal owed out and total out for real estate currently owned would likely reveal a lot.

Definitely recommend the seller financed buydown as if you refinance whatever the remaining balance from the buydown is can be used to pay down the principal balance of your loan. 

The note investor who thought interest is paid on the original principal rather than the unpaid principal balance.