I generally prefer higher since I don’t plan on putting in small claims, it’s basically just for catastrophic loses and the savings in premiums over multpiple properties for multiple years should balance that out if I have ever have to use the insurance.

I have some news for you, FHA does NOT require a 1 year work history!

A HELOC could help temporarily if you plan to payoff the balance quickly and are planning to save on monthly payments in the short term.  

All the leads I've found so far have balked at either the "investment property" requirement, the "in California" requirement (or both!)

For instance, cities like Chicago are known for landlord-tenant laws that skew heavily in favor of tenants, and that risk should be baked into your underwriting.What’s your take on balancing short-term cash flow with long-term equity growth?

Hey Alex, There are foreign national DSCR loan programs available for your scenario: Below are the list of requirements I have found most lenders have : 1.

If you've owned for at least that, you're good.If you do a rate/term refinance, where just the hard money balance is paid off, rates will be much better.

This will happen in a market with balanced supply and demand, in a monetary system like the US, with fiat currency targeting 2% inflation.- In some markets, that are growing quickly, with great jobs and lots of inbound migration, this could be a little higher - like 4-5% per year over long time periods as demand outpaces supply.

More often than not they fess up and kind of confirm they don't meet requirements if that is the case.  

Marion County does require you to register the property as a rental.