Thus, I think that we could see national rents rising in the high single digits, or possibly surging as much as 10% in 2026 vs 2025, with some markets seeing rents rise even faster than that - Austin, TX regaining much of the lost growth in 2024 and 2025, for example.

You can use conventional financing with low down payments and fixed interest rates because this is a primary residence.

If it was me, I'd just go conventional or use a vacation home type loan w/ a lower downpayment. 

Plus you can't typically get conventional financing because they want to finance to a person, not an entity.

Once you file your 2nd year of tax returns, you may now be able to qualify for Agency Loans (FHA/Conventional).

LTRs with long term conventional financing and standard management aren't really cash flowing anywhere right now. sure, there are lower cost markets that look better on paper, but there are costs associated with those supposedly cheap markets as well - deferred maintenance, more challenging tenant base, higher cost turnovers as a percentage of the rent.2. i wouldn't pick a random market thousands of miles away based solely on statistics or numbers. 

.- Would you be requiring custom changes often to your digital workflow?

If you can come up with an extra 1.5% and finance with a conventional loan you have none of those downsides, a lower monthly payment and PMI only until you hit 20% equity

I would focus on improving your credit and obtaining a more stable income so that conventional financing is an option. 

If not, I'm guessing it would be treated as a traditional rental loan, either conventional or DSCR, using market rents rather than the rent in the lease agreement.