The economy is rocking, we have full employment (~4% unemployment) and wage growth is still at 4%.

Sounds like we employ nearly identical strategies.

I'm self employed and not showing much income on my taxes.

If you can qualify with your income, DTI and employment history, conventional may offer better terms.

Also most people employed, so even if it is a struggle they can still pay the bills.

Here are two lessons: The property was about an hour away and at the time I worked for an employer full time, so it was hard to get over there each weekend to work on it.

We closed on our first property on November 15 and plan to employ the fix-and-flip strategy. 

Conventional at 5% down would cap you at 3% concessions, but generally is more lenient with employment history and property condition. 

Growing population, great employment opportunities, steady appreciation etc.The best amenity has been location.

THAT will, at some future date - about four years or so, put you in position to employ the mortgage acceleration strategy.If you have too much month left at the end of the money, well, there ARE debt reduction strategies available to help that at the expense of your credit rating - WITHOUT bankruptcy.