Crazy.On top of that, moving down the ladder (duplex → triplex, triplex → fourplex, etc.) is seen as riskier and harder to get approved for.

Make sure to research lenders, get pre-approved, and calculate your potential ROI before bidding. 

Examples could include but are not limited to installing new/ improving driveways, clearing overgrown trails/ build sites, demolishing abandoned buildings, property cleanup, extending or having utilities pre-approved, etc.

Approval and Adjustment: If approved, the exemption reduces the assessed value of the property, thereby lowering the property taxes owed.Let’s break it down with an example:Suppose you purchased an investment property for $1,000,000, but its previous taxable value was $700,000.

Here’s a common process:1) Pre-Screening (Before Showing the Property)✅ Inform renter of basic qualifications such as income, credit score, pets, move-in date, etc..2) After the Showing (Before Approving the Application)✅ If they’re seriously interested, have them submit a rental application + background check authorization at the same time.✅ This avoids wasting time screening unqualified tenants.3) Before Lease Signing (Final Step)✅ Run the background check before approving the tenant, so you can verify:Credit history & income stability Eviction & rental historyCriminal background (if applicable in your state)Final ThoughtThe best time is after the showing but before lease approval—this ensures you’re only screening serious applicants while minimizing wasted time and costs.

Quote from @Raghavendra Pillappa: Quote from @John Underwood: What if the county/city will not approve a bigger septic tank?

Every HML will work somewhat different but here is the standard flow:1) Get pre-approved with an HML - This should be free.

I found a listing in Northern California on Zillow that is vacant land with approved plans for building a home.

I've got about 7k in an emergency savings account.I am in the process of getting several mortgage pre-approvals to compare fees and get an idea of how much home I can realistically afford.I have yet to find a buyer's agent/investor to help me identify potential homes but will start on that shortly.Ideally, I would like to buy a single family home.

I don't have credit history in the US so I'm not able to qualify for traditional financing through a bank and being approved where I'm from is surprisingly just as challenging.