Many lenders are requiring longer seasoning requirements, will ask for a second appraisal, and will cut value if the comps on the appraisal do not support the value of the property.

"Most" water damage claims can be fixed and closed within a few weeks or months, where a fire claim "may" take 6 months to 1 year to close out due to more extensive construction, delays in materials or labor, weather/seasonal delays, etc. 

Are you looking to rent it our annually or seasonally? 

My market is seasonal and I was begging for enough revenue just to cover my mortgage so I wouldn't have to pay my own rent AND a mortgage. 

Some lenders can refinance a hard money loan after 3 months of seasoning / waiting and use the new appraised value if the borrower is looking to pull cash out for a new project. 

Conventional loan, excellent credit and reserves, nothing owed on the property and the property is seasoned.

I learned that April and May are seasonally slow for rentals, since most people seem to move in the summer, and also that the market here in Wesley Chapel, FL is a bit saturated with excess inventory from all the new construction activities in the area.Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

If you want to check out market data, head to websites like Realtor.com, Zillow, and Redfin, and partner up with seasoned agents who focus on multi-family properties.

As a lender using cards is fine just make sure you have the funds seasoned (2+ billing cycles) in your account prior to engaging into a loan transaction because funds sourced from an unsecured source cannot be used as down payment or closing costs.

., well I guess you need to ask yourself is it less work to clean up after guests in the off season than high season?