I thought 1 per year was enough to push me out of my comfort zone, but also not too much to overextend my finances. 

If there is no other way to evict the tenants and instead I offered to renovate the garden level into a two bedroom apartment would they have to accept that offer? 

I have never dealt with an investor who didn't physically go to the property & most look up zoning regulations before even giving me an offer!

However, there are lenders who offer more flexible terms or even no prepayment penalties, depending on the deal structure and your investment strategy.To find such lenders, here are some options to consider:No Prepayment Penalty Loans: Some lenders, often private or portfolio-based, offer DSCR loans without prepayment penalties, though the trade-off might be a slightly higher interest rate or fees.Yield Maintenance or Defeasance Alternatives: Ask about other prepayment structures like yield maintenance, which can sometimes be less restrictive depending on market conditions.Custom Terms: There are lenders (like us at Phoenix Funded) who can structure loans tailored to your needs.

Each exit strategy offers numerous advantages on both sides. 

You may come across pushback with having co-gendered units so as you grow I would suggest leaving room to have unit(s) that are male and female only for those who are more comfortable with living with others from the same gender. 

Ask the seller's agent to put their counter offer in writing.

.- You don't need to offer the full asking price as earnest money, but a large deposit definitely helps woo the seller into believing your offer is serious.

@Eric ChappellIf you don't have many properties and are comfortable using excel; I would use excel. 

I closed on less units in 2024 than I did in 2023 but I put in a solid offer on a new deal this evening.