First of all, only people with poor credit have 8.75% interest mortgages, when the current rate would be4% for owner occupied SFH. 

If you need cash for remodeling new home do a LOC on your owner occupied house before you rent it. 

All for a sign as long as the property looks occupied...leave shoes near the front door, have exterior lighting, and at least a RING camera. 

First mortgages involves loss mitigation (occupied 1st) and asset management (vacant 1st).

It's doesn't have to be 20% downpayment for a owner occupied home. 

Additional Info —Key Details:Location: Outside Santa Fe, NMProperty Size: 20 acres (valued at $80,000)Project: Two new STR unitsExisting Experience: Family has two fully-occupied LTRs nearby, generating $2,000/monthConstruction Approach: Self-contracted with licensed trades for electrical/plumbingCost Assumption: $80,000 per unit, plus ~20% for inflation (based on 5–8-year-old build costs)Financing: Using land equity as down payment on construction loan (expecting closing costs to be major expense)Request: Looking for feedback, potential pitfalls, and general guidance

The houses get beat up far more than say a 1 bedroom apartment because they are larger households occupying them and in many instances additional family members not on the voucher live with them as well without the landlords knowledge.  

If you’re not occupying the property and plan to either sell it or keep it as a rental, you might want to consider a bridge loan through a hard money lender.

We also require that we be added to the contractor's insurance as Additionally Insured, so we're covered if they cause damage or liability issue.3) If the property is occupied:- One of our people MUST accompany their person (and we charge for this). --- We were sued many years ago, along with the owner, because tenant claimed owner's contractor sexually assaulted them!

If you are interested in becoming a landlord or buy and hold investor a great way to get started is by house hacking a multifamily with an owner occupied loan.