It should be a requirement to be educated in that space prior to licensure.

What documents do they require, what credit scores do they allow, how do they verify previous rental history, etc.?

its very easy.. tehre are 35 states that do NOT require any license to do NON owner occupied loans.. very simple  talk to local attorney have them prep your note and mortgage and your good to go.. should not cost more that 1k or so for the docs..

And remember, lenders change their requirements over time, so what they will do today may not be what they will do next month. 

If you're living in it now, you'll probably be required to have a signed lease in place as well as proof that first month's rent/security deposit were collected in order to get a DSCR loan (they're business purpose loans and don't allow owner occupancy).

I like the one that requires payments to be deposited in an escrow account:New York state law requires that consumers receive a written contract for home-improvement work that exceeds $500.

I’ve heard about partnering with insurance companies for displaced families, working with military personnel in need of temporary housing, and possibly connecting with other organizations that require mid-term accommodations.I tried reaching out to GEICO about insurance-related housing needs, but they didn’t seem to have a clear process.Does anyone have experience with this niche?

To beat 5.25% mortgage rate....the corresponding, offsetting stock market return would be at least double that...To answer your question requires (1) knowing what risk adjusted return you will be able to earn in the future (2) knowing what interest rates will do in the future.  

Install additional stackable W/D units in the garage (requires some electrical work).2.

Recent zoning changes now allow for three dwellings on a single parcel, and parking requirements have been lifted in denser areas, both of which have boosted the local housing supply.